A Friend for the Long Haul's 1st Annual Long Covid Sickstravaganza Holiday Episode

Welcome to the 1st Annual Long Covid Sickstravaganza Holiday Episode! This episode features contributions from a few different lovely folks:

• Segment 1 features my 7 year old. We discuss what he really wants for the holidays - which is apparently for me to stop being so hard on myself. Oof.
• For Segment 2, The Long Covid Choir kindly shared a recording of a holiday song with us, called Alles Schweiget! Included is an introduction from choir director Merel van der Knoop. You can watch a video the choir put together on YouTube. Here are the lyrics in German and English: Alles schweiget, Nachtigallen locken mit süßen Melodien Tränen ins Auge, Schwermut ins Herz. All is Silent All is silent nightingales draw with sweet melodies tears in the eye heaviness in the heart. Music attrib. Haydn/Mozart Photography: Janne Cecilie Bjerkeland Produced: Merel van der Knoop
• In Segment 3, I have a nice long chat with Lior Ocean about what a crock new year's resolutions are, and we discuss self compassion and showing ourselves loving kindness in 2025
• Segment 4 features Joe Glasgow, who contributed a story called If These Pillows Could Talk
• Nina Storey kicked my ass with shares a demo of a new song called Shadows Fall (Love Myself). Nina said: "Let your audience know you inspired me after we spoke after your iron infusion, and every person dealing with a chronic illness and chronic pain or disability inspires this song too.  We are all warriors."

Lyrics:

Shadows Fall (Love Myself) Written by Nina Storey 

Verse I

so long alone 

surrounded by the noise 

still on my own

scattered through an empty void

but get up and I show up

cause I've grown up in the dark

and I'm bleeding but I'm breathing

and I know I'm come so far

Chorus

shadows fall from yesterday

what I've lost is far away

where to go when all the love is gone

when everyone has walked away 

and I alone have got to stay 

I learn to love myself and carry on

Verse II

take my life in minutes count them each a win

when I reach the end of one, then I start to count again

so I'll fake it, 'till I make it

cause most don't seem to care

but I'm ready and I'm clawing my way back for every breath of air

Bridge

I survived a stormy ride across my soul

you can't break me

iron veins have made me whole

Chorus

shadows fall from yesterday

what I've lost is far away

where to go when all the love is gone

when everyone has walked away 

I alone have got to stay learn to love myself and carry on 

Thank you all for contributing, and thank you listeners for supporting this endeavor this year! I hope you have a lovely holiday season!

To further spread some joy, there's a pretty decent giveaway happening for this special episode! Prizes are: a free month of the Calm app (not sponsored!), two free virtual dog training Sessions from Ray of Lighthouse Dog Training, a copy of Joe Glasgow's new book - Be a Hero, a signed copy of The Five Gifts: Discovering Hope, Healing and Strength when Disaster Strikes from Dr. Laurie Nadel, and a full copy of Chef Taryn of Bloom19's new Spoonie Cookbook! Chef Taryn also created a special holiday recipe for this episode, peppermint patties that are dairy free, gluten free, egg free, and refined sugar free! To enter, comment anything on this episode - also, tell me if you have a dog - or go to the giveaway post on my Instagram and comment, like, share, and tag friends for additional entries. Winners will be drawn on 12/29/2024.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, and share A Friend for the Long Haul if you can. And if you're feeling extra generous, leave a review. Your support helps get this in front of more earballs and helps me bring more episodes. You can listen to the A Friend for the Long Haul Long Covid Theme Songs playlist on Spotify. If you'd like to support this low budget/high love podcast, you can check out my Bonfire shop for silly long covid apparel or my Amazon wishlist,