"Just as we commonly hear people say the doctor prescribed someone particular riding exercises or ice baths or walking without shoes, we should in the same way say that nature prescribed someone to be diseased or disabled or to suffer any kind of impairment. In the case of the doctor, prescribed means something ordered to help aid someone's healing. But in the case of nature, it means that what happens to each of us is ordered to help aid our destiny."
~ MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.8
How can this be exactly what I needed?
Lovely, eh? About two and a half years ago in the middle of the night, I was awakened by terrible itching and burning. When I got to the mirror I saw a fiery red rash. There were also hives all over my body. I realized there was also swelling, which continued to get worse.Earlier that evening was, as it turns out, the last time I was able to eat mammal meat. In fact, it was the last time I ate anything at all that is made from mammal. No cheese, no pizza, no chipped beef, no cheesecake, no ice cream, no yogurt. That is just the tip of the iceberg of the staggering number of foods I cannot eat and never will again unless they come up with a cure for Alpha Gal Syndrome.While yes, there are innumerable diseases and illnesses and injuries that are more debilitating, this one is still devastating. It is a mind-fuck of epic proportions once you realize how many foods, products and medications contain mammal. Even bottled water can land a person with AG in the ER. Pretty much all of my favorite foods I will never be able to eat again.
No worries. I won't belabor the point anymore. I won't even mention all the other truly crappy events and injuries and illnesses I had around the same time. The point is .... well, why? and ...how? How can this be what the universe has ordered to help aid my destiny? I really, really, really struggle with this. Why are bad things supposedly intentional events? How on earth am I supposed to reframe this to the point of being thankful for it . . . to "love" it . . . ? 'amor fati'.
I will give the lessons of 'amor fati' a good effort but I have to say, I will be truly shocked if I can get to the point where I love my fate.
Earlier that evening was, as it turns out, the last time I was able to eat mammal meat. In fact, it was the last time I ate anything at all that is made from mammal. No cheese, no pizza, no chipped beef, no cheesecake, no ice cream, no yogurt. That is just the tip of the iceberg of the staggering number of foods I cannot eat and never will again unless they come up with a cure for Alpha Gal Syndrome.
While yes, there are innumerable diseases and illnesses and injuries that are more debilitating, this one is still devastating. It is a mind-fuck of epic proportions once you realize how many foods, products and medications contain mammal. Even bottled water can land a person with AG in the ER. Pretty much all of my favorite foods I will never be able to eat again.No worries. I won't belabor the point anymore. I won't even mention all the other truly crappy events and injuries and illnesses I had around the same time. The point is .... well, why? and ...how? How can this be what the universe has ordered to help aid my destiny? I really, really, really struggle with this. Why are bad things supposedly intentional events? How on earth am I supposed to reframe this to the point of being thankful for it . . . to "love" it . . . ? 'amor fati'.
I will give the lessons of 'amor fati' a good effort but I have to say, I will be truly shocked if I can get to the point where I love my fate.
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