Winter of my Life

	I received this poem via e-mail a few days ago.  I loved it as it really hit home with me.  I have been feeling a little depressed lately as I fight fatigue every day of my life.  Yesterday was a really bad day for me and I found it very hard to function.  I ended up on the couch most of the day feeling worthless and well, just sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I have decided I have to live with this the rest of my life as I have tried to figure out what is wrong. The doctor ran blood work and tried to help me get to the root of the problem. My blood work came out good except for my A1C test was a little high so it has to be my Diabetes. Everything I read, hear, etc. refers to Diabetes as a disease that causes fatigue.

I know my diet has a lot to do with it, and it is so hard to stick to a very low carb diet.  Even fruits will make my blood sugar rise. I get so tried of having to watch and think about everything I put into my mouth and paying the price when I eat something I shouldn't. I know that not too far into the future, I will have to go on insulin and that scares me as it is kind of tricky, and can cause dangerous low blood sugar.   I usually don't post personal things like this, but this is how I feel lately. The poem really hit home with me as it describes how I feel, wishing we could have done more things and couldn't because of health problems, either Frank's or mine. Life does pass us by so fast, and before we know it we are in the Winter of our Lives.

             Winter of My Life

        You know. . . Time has a way of moving quickly

        And catching you unaware of the passing years.

        It seems just yesterday that I was young, 

        Just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. 

        And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,

        And I wonder where all the years went. 

        I know that I lived them all...

        And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams... 

        But, here it is... The winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...

        How did I get here so fast? 

        Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

        I remember well... 

        Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those

        Older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off 

        That I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...

        But, here it is... 

        My friends are retired and getting grey... 

        They move slower and I see an older person now. 

        Some are in better and some worse shape than me... 

        But, I see the great change...

        Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... 

        But, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those

        Older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

        Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! 

        And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! 

        'Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

        And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared 

        For all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability 

        To go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!

        Yes, I have regrets.

        There are things I wish I hadn't done... 

        Things I should have done, but indeed,

        There are many things I'm happy to have done. 

        It's all in a lifetime...

        So, if you're not in your winter yet... 

        Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. 

        Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly! 

        Don't put things off too long!!

        Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, 

        As you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

        You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...

        So, live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember... 

        And hope they appreciate and love you for all the things 

        You have done for them in all the years past!!

        Life is a gift to you.

        The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. 

        Make it a fantastic one.

        ~ And, Remember ~

        "It is health that is real wealth

        And not pieces of gold or silver."