We are officially nearing the end of the year, a time traditionally reserved for grand New Year’s Resolutions. In my life as a former traveler, this meant planning major expeditions. This year, the stakes are different.
With LVSD 20% and NYHA Stage IV heart failure confining me to my home, my resolutions must be built on the foundation of preservation and presence, not physical achievement. This year, my goal is to thrive within the limits, not to break them.
Here are my three core resolutions for the coming year, and how I plan to achieve them from my home base:
Resolution 1: Master the Art of Self-Advocacy
When you rely on a complex support system (like the Community Care Team, specialists, and GPs), you must be the expert on your own body. Given my EF 20%, stability is fragile, and I must be the chief navigator of my care.
The Action Plan: I resolve to be meticulously organized. This means keeping a detailed, daily log of my vitals (weight, blood pressure, $\text{SpO}_2$) and preparing clear, concise questions for my doctors and nurses. I will refuse to accept vague answers and will always ensure I understand the why behind every treatment adjustment.
The Travel Parallel: This is like researching a new country's laws and customs before arrival. I must know the rules of my body better than anyone else.
Resolution 2: Cultivate Digital Connection as a Discipline
Loneliness is one of the most dangerous co-morbidities of being housebound. While I cannot travel to meet people, my digital presence here—on this blog and related platforms—has become my lifeline.
The Action Plan: I resolve to dedicate specific, low-energy time slots each day to responding to comments and engaging with this community. I will continue to share honest, practical advice about living with severe heart failure. My goal is to send my words further than my feet can ever carry me.
The Travel Parallel: This is opening a new, permanent communication channel, ensuring the traveler's voice doesn't fade into the silence of isolation.
Resolution 3: Find One Moment of Unforced Joy Daily
Living under the constant pressure of chronic illness and the "military mission" of daily tasks can drain the joy out of life. My third resolution is to actively seek and record one moment each day that makes me feel genuinely content, regardless of my physical condition.
The Action Plan: This might be the taste of a perfectly seasoned, low-sodium meal; watching a bird land on my windowsill; or listening to a favorite piece of music. I will keep a simple "Joy Log" to prove that life, even a housebound life, is still rich with small, profound pleasures.
The Travel Parallel: This is finding the hidden gem—the small, unexpected wonder that no guidebook could have prepared me for.
I may not be planning a trip to a foreign city next year, but I am planning the most important expedition of all: the daily, deliberate journey toward stability, peace, and meaningful connection.
I wish all of you a stable and peaceful transition into the new year. Let us meet the coming challenges with resilience and unwavering hope.
What is one small, highly achievable resolution are you setting for yourself in the new year to prioritize your health and well-being?
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