10 things I can't live without..

In random order ;)

Music
I can't live without music. I need music to wake me up, to accompany me while cycling to or from work, to make me concentrate during work, to relax after work, to dance on in the weekends, to listen to during concerts, to sing along during a cleaning spree, to remember memories, to make new memories while travelling, to listen to while I'm reading a few pages before I go to bed, and, and, and.. Well, you get the point.

Sleep
Very necessary. As many hours as possible.

Love of and love for family and friends
I have a few good friends who see what's going on with me, and who I fully trust, and can share my problems and worries with. I have a lot of friends who I can laugh with, grab a film with, can travel with, or get any other kind of distraction from health issues and work with. My family is also very important to me. And, the latest addition to our family, my little niece, is, in her own special way, dear to me.

Films
Watching films is a way for me to relax, to forget about my daily life, and watch the world from another perspective. And, it inspires me to think of new stories, and get creative.

Sports
Having Ankylosing Spondylitis means that exercising and sports are very, very important. I don't like the daily exercises, so that routine is spiced up by weekly Pilates, Body Balance, daily cycling to and from work and the once-in-a-while hike.

Medication
At this point, Humira has been my life-saver for nearly 4 years. Until further notice, my medication is something I couldn't live without for more than 2 weeks. A sole memory to the pains in my hips, which I had before, if more than enough to put this on my list.

Pen & Paper
To write down my thoughts, ideas, worries and stories, to draw, and to mindmap, I'm a fan of pen and paper. Particularly, I love these Moleskine and Leuchtturm notebooks. Even in this digital world, nothing tops the good old pen and paper.

Hands
I love to write, draw, sew, knit, cook and cycle, and I need my hands for that. With my hips being weak, I couldn't live without well-functioning hands.

Having fun at work
I'm spending more than 40 hours a week at work. Therefore, I want to enjoy my job for the share part of that time. It not only fills up most of my week, but work also influences sleep, my attitude to work and life, and my daily mood. So for the time I'm physically able to work, I want to have fun at work and in my job.

Travelling
Travelling is one thing I absolutely live, whether it is by bike, bus, train, car or plane. Going somewhere else relaxes me, gives me time to think, leave the day-to-day problems behind, and puts me in a great mood. Travelling is a passion, which is in a high risk of falling away when my health takes over my life and the (financial) priorities that go along. I would miss it. Living abroad is not an option anymore, but I still love going to other countries, speak my languages, learn new ones, broaden my horizons, enjoy nature and landscapes, or basically loving the fact that there's a lot more to discover, inside and outside the Netherlands.