What cheers you up?

[L8rgator]

1. Willow, my cat
2. Watson, my dog
3. Josie, my other dog
4. Peaches, my other cat
5. Popcorn, Huey, and Kiwi, the other/barn cats

They are the only ones who don't seem to notice my patches every time they look at me.

[dryeyedave]

1. making love to my wife(really my eyes feel normal when I do this).
2. hot shower with lots of steam(my eyes feel normal in the shower).
3. vaping with a cup of coffee in the AM while my drops start to work or with a nice whisky, scotch ect in the pm. I was never a smoker except occasional cigars and after my eye problems I did not want to be around the smoke any more. The vapor from an "ecig" does not bother me at all and the nicotine is an incredible mood lifter yet with no addiction issues.
4. Prayer, God, the Holy Tridentine Mass, saying the Rosary, praying for everyone here and all those who suffer from illness.
5. exercise
6. playing my cello though it is hard on my eyes.
7. reading on my Ipad--what a great device for the vision impaired.
8. being with my beautiful children.
9. sitting with my chickens
10. Those times when I can go out with my friends, have a few too many and argue about politics(all thanks to my scleral).
11. giving dry eye suffers the benefit of my experience and suffering in hopes that it relieves theirs.

The Number 1 Thing for me BY FAR: Thinking of all the things that would be so much worse than this - makes it easier to resist feeling sorry for myself hehe
2) Eating chocolate (although I try not to do this tooo often since that would only lead to other problems I don't need haha)
3) Scheming for ways to do what I want despite the fact that my eyes suck
4) The small victories with my eyes - every little improvement is savoured and enjoyed while it lasts
5) My hubby and kids
6) Relaxing with a book (regular ones if my eyes can handle it, otherwise an audiobook)
7) Watching TV or a movie
8) Fun times with friends and family
9) Good upbeat music - current favourites are Counting Stars (One Republic) and Roar (Katy Perry)

[24yrold Male]

What movie ! I could use an uplifting one tonight

Soul Surfer - a true story about a young surfer girl who loses an arm in a shark attack, and slowly learns to surf again.

[Faith1989]

What movie ! I could use an uplifting one tonight

[24yrold Male]

HI Laura,

Your (5), SO you don't have a problem watching a movie? That's a blessing. I heard that Soul Surfer was a great movie. But I'm not sure if I could finish the whole movie without my eyes bothering me.

Three things helped me stay focused: workout, prayers and sharing with friends (on this forum too)

i actually coincidentally saw this movie right as my eye problems got really bad. it kind of helps put things in perspective and is uplifting. though the effect was pretty short term.

[Rebecca Petris]

Nice thread!

1. Seeing my daughter's big happy smile first thing in the morning.
2. Reading a particularly good book to her.
3. Knowing it's Sunday and that there are very few things I really absolutely have to get done that day.
4. Digging up beds, transplanting veggies, weeding other beds and doing other random stuff in the garden.
5. Sitting in the field with my sheep and knowing just what spot on the head each one likes most to be scratched.
6. Enjoying a nice glass of wine in the evening after a long day.
7. Knowing my PROSE lenses will probably be sent back to me this week so I can stop squinting

[spmcc]

Damn You Auto Correct! cheers me up.

[Súil Eile]

Ha ha! I've got a clumsy cat too...and I always thought they were supposed to be graceful creatures

[Storm]

Great thread.
Here's my list

1) My 3 sons and husband. My sons are in there late 20's and have started their own lives.
2) If I cry and tears come to my eyes, it give me great relief from eye pain and cheers me up.
3) Knowing I'm going to be a grandmother in 4 months.
4) My cat. He's stupid, beautiful, clumsy, and devoted to me.
5) Being at the cottage.

[Súil Eile]

Ooh, great wine and food...they're definitely on my list too

[PotatoCakes]

Fun thread! I'm going to steal a few ideas from others'. Not in any particular order...

1. Exercise. Who knew something I always hated would become a lifeline?
2. My Onion Goggles when cooking. These would have been great even before I had dry eye!
3. My husband and daughter (her giggles, her toes...)
4. Really great wine
5. Really great food
6. My serum drops
7. Beautiful clothes
8. Fabulous shoes
9. High quality chocolate & salted caramel
10. The feeling, on good days, now that I've conquered my initial depression about having a chronic disease, that even with dry eyes and all the negative that comes with it, that it will not stop me from living and I'm still very fortunate to be here.

[Súil Eile]

1) Summer days...you know when the weather is just a perfect mix of sunny and slightly breezy. Always makes me smile

2) Spending time with great friends and laughing so hard I can barely breathe!

3) My 7 month old puppy - she's hilarious and definitely distracting

4) When my boyfriend does something small that might not seem like much but makes my day.

5) Hugs - many and often!

[patrick]

There is absolutely still a lot to enjoy in life although unfortunately dry eye always plays a role in just about anything i do these days.

Things i enjoy most;

1. Spending quality time with my loved ones.
2. My two grandchildren. (1.5 years and 6 months)
3. Biking/jogging.
4. Drinking the first cup of coffee on a sunny morning in our garden reading the paper and dez.
5. Restoring late 60s muscle cars and cruising around.
6. Collecting vintage japanese tin plate toys.
7. Buying sneakers ( yeah,i know it's stupid)
8. Listening to old skool hip hop and rap on vinyl.
9. Watching english detectives.

[Hopeful2]

I am so fortunate to be able to contribute to this thread.

1. Hearing the rain bounce of the roof, while laying in bed.
2. Drinking green matcha tea with vanilla soy milk.
3. Listening to my dog purr.
4. Trying to play Clue with my super pro family.
5. Knowing that I am a spiritual being.
6. Waking up and realizing that it is Saturday.
7. Getting rid of clutter . . . old clothing, china, knick knacks . . . old grudges.
8. Thinking of my courageous husband and kids.
9. Living in the moment . . . and believing that I can heal when in the middle of an eye consuming moment.

If you asked me this question a year ago, you would have gotten a much shorter list. For those of you who are recovering from the trauma of post lasik dry eye, know that time does heal the wounds. . . and the eyes!