It has made a difference

Being sick has made a difference.  I am different than I was before.  I know we all change and who knows what would have been had I not become sick.
My point is that I have been dealing with insecurities and a lack of confidence.  There have been times (pre sickness) when of course I had to deal with insecurities.  Most people have them. 
What I'm talking about is the lack of confidence that comes from being in a world of sickness for 12 years.  Isolation and withdrawal.  It's a strange thing.
I was able to teach part time for a while during my sick years but now that I am trying to do this new program I have found that I don't bounce back from discouragement as quickly as I used to.  I just have to work harder at it.
I really have to work hard to think positively and believe in my abilities.
I read once where it can take up to two years to try to change your mental mind set and reprogram negative thought patterns.  I have to keep trying.
Of course, I'll never know what might have been, so here I am doing the best with what I have.  Yet, I can't help but wonder what it is that weighs me down.  Okay, fatigue plays a HUGE role...but is that the whole story behind my feeling like I'm constantly trying to pick myself up?
One minute I'm feeling like I'm capable and can manage and then I feel tired and achy and I wonder if it's worth it.  It has to be worth it, I know that in my heart.  I just can't figure out why the fatigue has to take over mind, body, spirit and make it so I just want to give up.
I want to enjoy instead of the mental mind set that I've had for so long of just getting through it, just surviving, just doing the best I can.  Fatigue does make a difference.  Chronic illness does change our thought process.  It doesn't mean we don't have joy or laughter or good moments, it just means that sometimes we have to take a lot of deep breaths of encouragement to "get there."
Carry on.