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What if we finally had a cure?

I’m not talking about trigger identification and elimination, a treatment that finally works, or a special diet. I’m talking about a real, honest-to-goodness cure that stops our brains from being so sensitive in the first place.

We wouldn't need medications or supplements to achieve this either. There would be no more handfuls of pills, med trays, or pharmacists who know us by name. Just a simple, short-term treatment that forces our brains to behave normally and then we're done FOREVER.

We’d have no more restrictions. We could eat whatever we want, go to loud concerts, bathe ourselves in our previously-favorite perfume, drink that red wine and absolutely nothing bad will happen. “Paying for it” would be an outdated concept. We finally be free.

What is the first thing you would do?

Just take a moment to let that soak in…let yourself dream.

Daydreaming…

I’d plan a camping trip with family and friends. Weather would not be a concern. I'm the mother of an Eagle Scout -- I've got enough gear to thrive wet or dry, hot or cold.

I can already feel the warmth of the fire and smell the burning wood. We’d bury foil-covered vegetables in the hot coals to bake and grill steaks over the fire. For desert we'd fill cored apples with cinnamon candies, cover them in foil, and bake them in hot coals, too. Just for fun, we’d roast marshmallows and make s’mores.

Someone would bring a guitar and start a round of singing. I can almost feel the chill in the air. Wrapped in a blanket and sitting by the fire, I'd curl up with my sweetie and my dog. There’d be no hotels or campers for this gal. Just give me an all-weather tent and a sleeping bag.

Birds would gently wake me in the cool morning mist. There's nothing quite like steaming breakfast burrito of juevos, chorizzo, and queso when it's cooked outdoors on a cast iron skillet over the still hot coals. With bellies full, we’d take off for a day of hiking, canoeing, and maybe even some target practice with some .22 rifles...

The hobby I lost

I miss it so much. I hated to give it up. Unfortunately, the smell of burning wood and weather changes are huge triggers. I would spend most of my day huddled in the tent with makeshift comfort items begging God to make it stop. It just wasn’t fun anymore if everything about camping triggered a migraine attack. I wanted to be outside laughing and playing with everyone else. Instead, I spent my weekends in unnecessary misery. So, for the last five years, my family has gone without me. I insisted they do this because I didn’t want to be the reason they missed out on so much fun.

No doubt, I’d get it back.

If we finally had a cure, I’d plan at least a full week of camping out in the middle of nowhere just for me and my husband. When we got back, I’d join a BSA Venturing Crew, book the next trip to Philmont or Northern Tier, and I wouldn’t stop there.
What would you do if we finally had a cure?

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