The Challenge

Today is the first day of the last month of the 2015 Try Something Challenge.

In January of 2015, I decided I would try something new each month this year. But the story doesn't start there.

Nearly four years ago, I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. Most patients of the disease are first diagnosed in their mid-thirties, so I was right on par with that. But my doctor (one of my favorite people on all the earth!) said he's never seen a case move quite so fast. Within three months, my hands were claws. Typing this blog will take three times as long for me as it would someone else, because I cannot reach all the keys and must constantly go back and fix. Within six months, my jaw was completely fused shut. He prescribed a biologics drug, and I've had great results.

Still, though, once the damage is done, there's no getting it back. That might be survivable with one's hands or knees. Not so much when we're talking about a jaw fused shut! So last fall, 2014, I had a two part surgery to replace my jaw with artificial joints. Bi-lateral TMJ replacement, if you want to get technical. Step 1 was to remove the damanged joints, put in spacers, and wire my jaw shut. For two months! Step 2 was to remove the wires and spacers and attach the titanium alloy joints.

While I was sitting out the two months in between, I was unable to do much of anything. I was having complications (I won't regale you here), and basically I sat on the couch at my sister's and watched TV. There's not much on daytime TV except talk shows and the food channel. I don't particularly like talk shows, so I watched cooking shows.

With a jaw wired shut. Only able to eat/drink through a straw.

*Pause for laughter.

But that brings us to The Challenge. As I watched Bobby and Ina and Ree create wonderful meals with love and excitement, I realized I'd never enjoyed cooking that much. As a single person, I'd always made what was easy. Why spend all kinds of time and effort when it's just me? During those two months of idleness, I decided I wanted to learn how to cook.

By the time January 2015 rolled around, I'd decided I was going to make it a year-long challenge: every month I was going to try something new.

Now I am approaching the end of 2015, and I am pleased with what I've accomplished. Some things I've always wanted to do (like learn to cook). Some things I thought I'd never do in a million years (give up coffee). And some things were a challenge for me personally, not because they were new and fit The Challenge, but because they caused me to stretch and grow (joining a creative writing group).

I've always been a writer, so the New Thing for December 2015 fits in line with that. I've begun a website to showcase my writing, get feedback from readers, and interact with the larger world. Welcome! I look forward to getting to know you!