Sometimes we need to refocus and emphasize or build upon what we most like about ourselves or want in life. Other times we feel trapped in the basic needs of life and, in a loosely Maslow based concept, must focus on obtaining or building those basic needs in our life before we can self actualize in other ways. But what if you are told one of your basic needs, health, is unobtainable at this time. I used to think that I couldn't dream or focus on other things because as one doctor said (I lost the name my apologies) "healthy people have many dreams, sick people only have one and that is health." But I have decided to take a different tactic. I will neither accept the level of sickness my past doctors said I should get used to, nor will I give up on my dreams other than health. Since there is no cure yet, I will in fact focus on my other dreams even more than physical health and I believe this has helped me be healthier over all.
More specifically I have taken to putting aside what I am doing when my loved ones come home to ask about their day, keeping a special journal on hands at all times which I can draw or make notes in, following a strict health treatment plan.
This treatment plan includes taking certain medications at specific times or as needed, staying hydrated, gentle exercise, eating my safest foods and avoiding mast cell triggers. Sometimes those triggers are easily avoided like seafood or hot water, other (usually environmental triggers are harder to avoid such as strong emotion, inhaling other people's food scented body products, air freshener seems to be any indoor place one goes and some stores blow it outside to entice people to come in so just walking by can trigger mast cell degranulation. A large amount of my life does have to be focused on health, but it does not have to be in charge of my every waking moment.
To avoid environmental mast cell triggers I have many techniques one of which is to spend a lot of time at home where we can better control what I am exposed to with air purifiers and air filters and simply not bringing those things into my home. and at first that meant I spent a lot of time on the Internet, and Facebook as it was my main connection with other human beings.
Sometimes Facebook and Twitter are full of difficult or emotional posts or share negativity rather than hope or positivity. (Gasps of shock I am sure ;)) At times I must take Internet breaks in part or just Facebook breaks and other times I emulate historical vows of silence entirely for hours or days at a time. But most often I focus my energy on honing my craft, reading, and spending time with loved ones, and I have found that despite a constant underlying amount of pain and illness, I am learning how to thrive not just survive.
Years ago I embraced my inner artist and said to myself, "Sean, I have always wanted to make art. Why am I not making art and how can I change that?" And so began a daily commitment to myself to make any tiny to large amount of art that I can. 
For as long as I can remember I have loved playing with color, texture sound, light, sensations and making things my family called art. From mud pies and finger painting to intricate slip molds my mother let me help pour and fired for me so my friends and I could paint them and proudly display to the light boxes I often make and the mud slinging of ceramics that I have rekindled a passion for.
Yes, health is one of those basic human needs most people prize, but what if you discover your health problems that you spent large chunks of your life seeking a diagnosis and/or treatment or a cure for is currently incurable. Not only that, but it is lately not understood yet by doctors and they can only treat some of your symptoms and take a band aid approach, so you must decide how to proceed. Do you throw all your time effort and life savings into finding alternative treatment options to, combine methodologies, give up as some doctors told me and simply accept multiple daily mast cell degranulation events and weekly anaphylactoid episodes?
For me I chose different paths at different times in life with varied levels of success. Most recently after my 2013 "perfect storm" moment which sent my health spiraling downward into a constantly reactive state including fight or flight and anaphylaxis modes, I have found a treatment plan and way of living that best works for me at this time. It includes a combination of thought paths and methodologies including western medications, trigger avoidance, alternative methods and restructuring my time and use of my energies into things which bring me and others the most peace, love, light and joy.
I do not always succeed. I am not claiming to be a constant source of loving joy and light. It is difficult especially in my worst moments of pain and when chemicals are pouring or of my mast cells telling me to fight or flee. But I am finding more positive moments than I did before. And that is a huge victory to me. 
I have been called an optimist by some and a pessimist by others. I suspect this is because I am what I consider a realist and don't believe in a glass half empty or half full. I see that it is a glass and there is something in it. Perhaps in some ways it is my Buddhist leanings which have lead me to take a "it is not good, or bad, it simply is" approach to most things.
In other ways I have found it helpful to make note of things I find joy from. Some people keep a gratitude or happiness journal. The app called "happier" has been a place I find useful to keep notes of my happy moments and share in those of others. Tho at times writing things down Ina special journal can be wonderful. Even just snap quips and memories. 
In the past I blogged, but more Recently I have taken to keeping notes, scribbles, quotes, memories, sketches and the like in various small journals that are light weight enough to always keep at hand. It was suggested by an artist friend. As poet decades ago and I highly recommend you do it. Be it home made or store bought. If you can scribble in it, it's a good start.
What are your priorities? Have you found a level of health you can work with as a baseline even while you continue strivin f for better health? I have and I highly recommend it. What are your tips, tricks, techniques, or chosen methods to thrive not just survive? Have you taken that step? If you are dealing with constant anaphylaxis and still seeking the best treatment plan for you I understand the need to pour all that you are into finding it. But for me, taking time out now and then to focus on.
The other parts of my life I enjoy has helped in my continued path of healing and being as healthy as I can within my own bodies limitations. In this way I find myself constantly surprised at what I have achieved or even dreams I once dated not to dream and now see as more likely futures. I would love to hear others thoughts on this. Thank you for reading my ramblings for the day and may love, peace, joy and healing be with you.
