Ok, so there’s a blog in my drafts that I was working on about the new Biggest Loser documentary. I took what I thought would be a quick break, and now it’s been over two weeks.
Oops.
I’m going to get back to that draft, but not yet.
The past few weeks my brain has been feeling full because of the steamroll of more bad policy, attacks on healthcare, voter rights and honestly, attacks on humanity. It’s a lot to see and read about. My farm is thriving, but last week I did two news interviews about the new mandate demanding the removal of inclusive LGBTQ+ language in sex education, and one on Nancy Mace running for governor, so I can’t exactly be removed from everything.
This work is so rewarding, and I absolutely love it. And I need to make sure I’m taking care of myself too.
The past few weeks, I’ve had all these words in my head, and I don’t know how to put them together to get them out right. It’s been easier to let them just stay inside. However, that’s also led to some anxiety. Silence is a double edged sword.
I’ve also been rehabbing my knee and wrist – I wish I had some great gym war story, but I don’t. Last year, during a massage visit the massage therapist (thinking she was helpful) massaged my forearm and then pulled my hand resulting in my wrist popping – not something she should’ve done at all in her scope. Since then, I get pain periodically and any overuse from typing and doing daily things triggers a pain that I can only describe as a knife going into my nerve. It means I can’t grip and turn or type. This time it lasted for 5 days and adding compression and ibuprofen were helpful. I’m getting really good at computer dictation and modifying type with one hand 🙃
My knee – well, I knelt funny and it swelled so much that even walking hurt. This is the first day that I’m actually in the gym in three weeks – I’m actually in the corner of the gym writing this while I rest and stretch, and finish walking on the treadmill.
So how have I been taking care of myself? Trying to do what I can, and being honest about it.
Thankfully, my knee and wrist weren’t having issues at the same time. So while my knee was hurt, I did seated movement. And when my knee felt better, but wrist hurt, I went for walks. I want to run again, but I also don’t want to undo any healing that happened this month.
I’ve also tried to focus on getting enough water in, having meals I enjoy that also check some boxes, take my vitamins and unwind when possible. We watch The summer I turned pretty on Wednesday nights, and we’re watching Downton Abbey (my second time, her first). We’re crafting a bit, and decorating for Halloween. I’m also trying to get to bed before 10 when my brain lets me.
August was different than I thought it would be, and I still did everything I could. Even through anxiety and injuries, I didn’t make excuses – I let myself feel it, and figure out a new path to go in the same direction.
Tomorrow’s a new month. Let’s see what it brings.