Happy Mothers Day

To those who have mothered me when I needed it.  To those who have stepped in when my Mom couldn't be there.  To those who have inspired me to be the Mom that I am. I say thank you for loving me and for guiding me.

To My Mom who didn't come along until I was 17 (I was the easiest labor ever).  Thank you for loving me when it would have been just as easy not to.

I am incredibly fortunate to remember the instant I knew I was loved.  Most of us grow up not remembering that because we were babies, I remember it clearly.  I have learned from my Mom that mothering isn't just something that happens - it is a choice and I am so thankful she chose me.  I could go one forever about how great she is but I have learned that sometimes more is less.  Besides, love cannot be bottled and labeled - it is the lifeforce that flows through us all and makes life worth living.

When to get up and when to lie down

After this last fall, my doctor asked that I take a week off and rest.  Due to the fact that I could barely move, it was easy to comply on Saturday and Sunday.  By Monday I was itching to get out of bed and by the end of Tuesday I had plans for meetings on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  I cannot stay in bed for another day.  Puttering for 10 minutes in the kitchen doesn't count nor does doing paperwork (email and letters) for fundraising and other commitments from bed.  Being productive means (to me) 'up and about'.  I need to be out of bed.

I think that this is a common trap that many who suffer from chronic illnesses fall into: we are sick or have an injury that sets us back, we get stuck in bed, we get depressed, we can't get out of bed and the cycle gets stuck.  For me, the act of getting out of bed and out of the house breaks the cycle.  I still have crushing pain and emotional wreckage days but being up breaks the cycle of depression and that desire to stay in bed forever because everything hurts and every one's life is going on but mine and waaah waaah pity me.  I don't have mercy for pity partiers and am down right brutal on myself if it is my own pity party.

Thus, the question becomes; when do we listen to our doctors and when do we listen to our own body wisdom?  It is important to break that cycle of pain - depression - stuck in bed - pain - depression etc.  As we have established that getting up and about is a great way to do that, I decided to listen to myself (notice I didn't say my body wisdom) and on Wednesday proceeded to do 5 loads of laundry (which meant 5 trips up and down the stairs) as well as clean the kitchen, practice flute and piano, and drive myself to a doctor appointment.  This was a bad idea.

So I am now listening to my body wisdom which says that while it may be depressing to be stuck in bed, your body needs rest so watch or read something funny and get over it.  Today will be spent at physical therapy - for which I am going to ask for a ride - and resting.  While I don't relish the thought of being "stuck" in bed, I suppose there are worse things.

The moral of the story is that we need to listen to what our bodies are telling us whether we like it or not.  Be good to yourselves because no one else can do that for you.

Tumble

Took a tumble down the stairs last Thursday and banged up my body as well as slammed my head into the ceramic tile floor.  Needless to say, what a day.  Had a nice ambulance ride to the hospital where they assured me (after ct scans and numerous x-rays) that everything was fine.  However, they kept me over night to be on the safe side.
I am okay but am really hurting and am now using a walker to get around for a few days.  I am in pain but am thankful that no serious damage was done.

I will be back with humor, sarcasm, and plenty of colorful commentary in a few days.