Regretting time lost...suggestions for having fun

[Steph_12345]

Hi. 🙂

The reason I'm here is thinking about past times and opportunities lost.

I have MS; which caused me to have Epilepsy. Recently, I had a severe focal seizure. In the past, I had grand mal seizures, which were well managed (eventually) with medications.

Hence, I'm now motivated to start having fun again! Suggestions would be much appreciated, as I have: an inability to drive and get motion sickness; used to play poker and watch movies, but now have vision issues; suffer anxiety and depression​ due to illnesses and lack of support from family members and a very small circle of really good friends.

I used to travel intrastate​ often, used to be capable of activities that I miss, and am unable to work full time like I used to.

Many thanks for all suggestions offered,

Steph.

[BballJ]

Hi Steph_12345,

Firstly, welcome to the forums.

Sorry to hear what you have dealt with but gosh you seem so strong from it and have this positivity that shines through your post which is amazing, I think you will find you will have a lot of input on these forums if you want to stick around and speak to different people, you might have advice that can help others from your experiences, which can turn into a little hobby for you as well, many people spend a portion of their day on here to get away from their mental illness so I would suggest that as one suggestion for you.

Just a thought would maybe be exercising, maybe gym or pilates or yoga something along those lines, exercise is such a good thing for our minds and does actually make us feel happy, I have had friends begin Pilates and Yoga and they love it for it stress relief and they actually enjoy it and meet new people as well.

My best for you,

Jay

[Gruffudd]

Thanks for an interesting question Steph.

You can still think and feel which is a rather wonderful thing about being alive. Those two things get obscured and lost when I am in major depression, so I am rather attached to them at other times.

I love stories, both my own, family, other people. They can be told in so many ways, from forums like this to books and films and songs. You know podcasts are fantastic and so is radio.

Gardening is another thing, when nothing else is possible I have gardened in pots. It's a tactile thing that brings me joy.

Language - I have a couple of them on the go. It gives the mind a workout and distracts - Duolingo is a good one...

Rob.

[Steph_12345]

Hi Jay,

Thank you for your suggestion

Although I exercise alone constantly, doing it socially would be really fun. (I haven't done so since schooling days, lol). I will now search for yoga groups.

Cheers 😄

[Steph_12345]

Hi Rob.

Inially, I very much appreciate your suggestions.

Alas, ​regards gardening and languages, I live in a unit; am afraid of skin cancer; and used to be very interested in learning languages, but with Aphasia I often find it hard to communicate verbally what I'm thinking. Lol.

Having said that, you have enlightened and motivated me to start reading much more, and eith different areas other than textbooks (hehehe); and perhaps I should try and do as a friend does, in watching posts on Youtube (rather than just music all the time). Hahaha.

In response to your personal feelings, thank you for sharing that with me. I personally have felt 'down' many times. Which is why I thought of this site. Lol. What personally interests me is an ongoing hobby of social poker and gaining Facebook contacts ... to learn about their life stories, how they lost hands, etc.; hearing the 'dramas/ gossip' of strangers over coffee, in the table behind them; and reading "Rhinoceros Success" every 6 months. (Not to try and advertise or anything, but just because it helps me to keep 'charging' through uni after I get my disappointing results. I always think, what the?! Why didn't I get a 7...

Again, thanks heaps for your advice. 🙂

[Elizabeth CP]

I suggest you ring your local council &/or the MS society & ask if there are any community groups or volunteers that could help. Some areas have volunteers who will take people out when they are unable to get out on their own due to disability. There are often groups linked to specific disabilities which can enable you to get out & socialise with others. My husband is linked to Vision Australia & Muscular Dystrophy Association & has attended activities either ran by or recommended by both these organisations. He has found these activities really enjoyable because he gets to do things he enjoys & socialises with people who understand what he is going through. I'm not sure what the MS society has available but it is worth asking.

[Jugglin_Strugglin]

Hi Steph,

Having fun. Great thread. We all need more of that.

I've just begun to realise that I am an oldie?? Sigh. But I think back to the things we used to do before our lives became digital.....it seems to me that now we are living virtual lives, connecting through screens. This can be good- this forum- or bad when it is all consuming.

Anyhow, YEARS ago, we used to have bbqs and get togethers every weekend. For a long time, a favorite past time was playing cards. You have said about Poker. You can get large print cards from Royal society of blind or vision Australia.

There are many great card games you can play. Work lunchtime was always spent by all co-workers playing euka. It was great fun. We even managed a few games at smoko...it was addictive, we all looked forward to it and enjoyed it so much. Sadly now in the lunchroom, everyone sits hypnotised by their phones. Sigh. No one interacts at all. It is a huge loss.

Other good games are 500, canasta, rummy, cribbage, 21 & so many more that I sadly forget. The internet is good for looking up the rules etc of any game, they are usually easy to pick up. We recently had a power blackout..several days!!...so I taught my son how to play euka. I had actually forgotten how..can't believe it cos I'd played 1000s of hours. ..but we had a blast. I'm sorry that we'd never done it before. I started playing before I started school..there was always cards on the table in my house growing up..and it was great for learning maths, strategy etc

There are also dice games like Zilch & Yahttzee. We'd often bring out the dice for a change of pace. Backgammon was another favorite but only 2 players at a time. Most other games can have 2, 3, 4 or more players, with versions for partners etc. There are also games you can play on your own like patience (better than the screen version) and others. All on Google!

So Thankyou for letting me reminisce. Much of my spare time for many years was spent playing these games. We formed many friendships, and shared lots of laughs through playing. I think there are clubs where you can go to play various games..the net again. There are definitely scrabble clubs about. I sometimes do sudoku now, but that is lonely.

I will look forward to reading further posts on fun ideas. What DID everyone do before www?

I hope this inspires someone to start shuffling. I might have a game of euka with my son when he gets home, if I can pry him away from the screen.

Good wishes for you, Lee :~}>

[Gruffudd]

Oh yes, Oops, Steph. YouTube has some interesting corners you are right. Have you discovered the delights of the Jeremy Kyle show? It is inane I promise but also full of people with a story and complexity. Also if you want a little higher the ted talk, button poetry all that can be worth it. I am always open to suggestions on the videos too.

now I must go and splash in the bath with my collection of rubber ducks.

Rob.

[Steph_12345]

Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you for your suggestions and information.

I apologise for the delayed response. I saw your post, but had little downloads available.

In veiwing your post though, I felt motivated; viewed voluntary opportunities; and found one that was in line with my inabilities. I applied, and am starting next week.

Many thanks. :-)​

[Steph_12345]

Hi Lee,

Thank you for your suggestions, information, and further insight about card games. 🙂

I didn't know about bigger cards! That would definity help lots. I'll look into this for social home tournaments... (For which "the host has no income for; hence is not taxable; thus the ATO would have no reason to research into")...

And among other things, I have also invited some mates to play games like Share Market.

This implies that I may be older... Lol.

Thanks again Lee.