I have my own social life for the first time in years and that is so amazing – and exciting!
Claire opens up a whole new world with her virtual adventures…
Claire became ill at the age of 10. She was bedbound for six years, in a darkened room 24/7. Her virtual adventures have changed her life and they may well work for you too…
My very first virtual experience was a party for my 19th birthday. I was bedbound and feeling really low and lonely. I sent out little chocolate teacakes and candles for my friends to light and sing Happy Birthday! I felt surrounded by them, even though they were miles away. It turned what could have been an awful day into one I really enjoyed.
From there I went on to creating ‘Holidays From Home’ and then ‘Live in Love in Laugh in’. The parties have grown so much over the past ten years and now they have become what I first imagined. I’ve had so much fun with the virtual adventures. I love having something to look forward to, especially when I feel so left out hearing what other people are up to. I have my own social life for the first time in years and that is so amazing – and exciting!
The first step is to download the e-magazine and an mp3 audio. If you can’t spend much time on a computer, download them to your electronic device: laptop, smartphone or notebook. Then you can print them off, load them onto your mp3 player, or just browse as and when you are able.
Read this excerpt from one of Claire’s virtual adventures and know that there’s so much more to discover, including a recipe for the Fruit Punch you’ll need when you’re sitting back on deck!
Snorkelling
You wake up in your large, comfy double bed and can hear the sound of the waves lapping against the hull of the boat. It’s so soothing and relaxing that you don’t feel inclined to move; but the sunshine peeping in through the curtains calls to you with the promise of a glorious day. You stretch and get up gently, changing into your swimming costume before slipping on a light T-shirt and shorts over the top.
Heading downstairs to the boat’s main living room, you see the table has been laid with platters of fresh fruit for you to enjoy for breakfast. There’s also a pot of tea and one of coffee, as well as a jug of fruit juice. Help yourself to whatever you fancy and then carry your plate out onto the table on the deck, the perfect place to eat and enjoy the view.
Your yacht is moored just off a beautiful island. You can see the golden sandy beach and lush greenery from your spot on the deck. It’s a beautiful day and the sun is already high in the sky. The light sparkles on the water, reflecting back from the tips of the gentle waves and looking down you can see through the clear turquoise water, to the seabed below.
You can clearly see the fish swimming back and forth around the boat, darting here and there. They’re having a great time, free to explore the ocean and go where they want.
There are snorkels and masks sitting on one side and you pick a set up before sitting down on the platform to put them on. You dangle you feet into the warm water and feel the waves gently washing against you, feeling like a giant bath. You slip the mask on and adjust the rubber strap, fitting it to your head. The world looks strange through the window of plastic that is now attached to your face.
You catch a scuttle of movement and see a crab dart across the seabed before falling still as the shadow of a fish swims over it. You look up to see a bright orange and white clown fish swim so close to you that you could almost reach out and touch it. It swims up to a piece of coral which looks like a stone brain, the undulating ridges make it perfect for the clown fish to hide in.
The fish all swim in and out of the coral, appearing then disappearing, before emerging once again. You float on top of the water, looking down at them, watching the way they move together and dart apart. It’s hypnotic and very relaxing and times passes quickly. Spend as long as you want snorkelling, follow the reef and see what other fish you can see. You’re free to return to your yacht whenever you want.
N.B. This kind of mindfulness may help some people to deal with the emotional aspect of having ME/CFS and isolation, as a chronic long-term illness (with currently have no effective treatments or a cure) can be understandably difficult to deal with and especially due the effect on mental health. However, we are all individuals and what may help one person may not be suitable for another person with this disease.
Links to examples of Virtual Adventures
If you'd like to listen to more Virtual Adventures, please do visit Claire's website
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