Oo, it’s tough isn’t it? Prioritising what we are TOLD to do as opposed to what we WANT to do, even if it’s good for us. I get SO bored and frustrated doing what I’m meant to do. I want so much more. I feel you in my soul.
Feeling you right back. So much of what I need to do is boring. That's my biggest challenge with doing the exercises. Layering this on top of my usual chronic conditions has been eye-opening. I know you understand that.
wow. We have very different challenges, but my exercise this past year has been my job. It was what my husband would say when I started feeling guilty for prioritizing the gym over washing the floor. I learned so much from this. A lot to think about. Thank you.
"Now, it’s not as simple as saying that this is just about thinking I have to be productive to be good."
That resonates with me. It's some kind of childhood programming that we unquestioningly take with us into adulthood. I know that I had to learn, or more accurately was forced, to pay attention to my health, to slow down, at the expense of being productive. Difficult lesson, but a good one.
I'm sorry it was a lesson life forced on you in some way. I'm still learning it! I think I've made a lot of progress with thinking that I have to be productive to have value, but I'm really struggling now with my own desires to do more than my body currently should. (She writes after losing most of the morning to headache because she did too much gardening and cooking yesterday...)
“I want them to know that rest, exercise, checking in with your own needs is the human condition, not something that happens only in a worst-case scenario.”
Not something that happens only in a worst-case scenario.
I still feel guilty about doing "nothing" on certain days. Getting nothing done has many benefits. Since dropping the hustle and bustle, I've become a much better human being to those around me.
How are you feeling? How is your pain level? I had a really bad migraine over the weekend and I thought of you. Funny how pain does that...
I think I'm a better human being to those around me, too. I sure try to be. That's really my only ambition now.
Funny you should ask about pain. I've been doing ok, but this morning I've been knocked flat by headache. Meds are controlling the pain, but my energy is zapped. I know I did too much because I was feeling better. I'm sorry you had migraine, too. You might check out the most recent post from Tamsin (commented above). She's got a poem about pain that's spot-on. It's weirdly comforting to find others who get it.
Chronic health challenges are non-trivial, and a shift in mindset one of the hardest habits to cultivate. I am super sorry you have this burden to bear, but I applaud you for the dedication you've managed to call forth and the willingness to keep massaging the tough spots. I must admit when I saw what you and Cane accomplished together for the neighbor my first thought was, "Woah...somebody's gonna be wiped out after that!" And there's that mindset thing again. I think as long as you're aware that your path is never going to move in a straight line, and that you have the ability to come back to center time and again, you'll make good progress. Thanks for taking a chance on this post, Rita, and for your honesty.
You have hit the nail squarely on the head: "I think as long as you're aware that your path is never going to move in a straight line, and that you have the ability to come back to center time and again, you'll make good progress." This is true of so many things, isn't it? Thank you for taking the time to stop in and cheer me on and remind me of this truth it can be easy to forget.
Oo, it’s tough isn’t it? Prioritising what we are TOLD to do as opposed to what we WANT to do, even if it’s good for us. I get SO bored and frustrated doing what I’m meant to do. I want so much more. I feel you in my soul.
Feeling you right back. So much of what I need to do is boring. That's my biggest challenge with doing the exercises. Layering this on top of my usual chronic conditions has been eye-opening. I know you understand that.
wow. We have very different challenges, but my exercise this past year has been my job. It was what my husband would say when I started feeling guilty for prioritizing the gym over washing the floor. I learned so much from this. A lot to think about. Thank you.
It's really hard to do, isn't it (prioritizing the gym over the floor)? I know there's more thinking for me to do on this, too.
"Now, it’s not as simple as saying that this is just about thinking I have to be productive to be good."
That resonates with me. It's some kind of childhood programming that we unquestioningly take with us into adulthood. I know that I had to learn, or more accurately was forced, to pay attention to my health, to slow down, at the expense of being productive. Difficult lesson, but a good one.
I'm sorry it was a lesson life forced on you in some way. I'm still learning it! I think I've made a lot of progress with thinking that I have to be productive to have value, but I'm really struggling now with my own desires to do more than my body currently should. (She writes after losing most of the morning to headache because she did too much gardening and cooking yesterday...)
Wow, this hit hard.
“I want them to know that rest, exercise, checking in with your own needs is the human condition, not something that happens only in a worst-case scenario.”
Not something that happens only in a worst-case scenario.
I still feel guilty about doing "nothing" on certain days. Getting nothing done has many benefits. Since dropping the hustle and bustle, I've become a much better human being to those around me.
How are you feeling? How is your pain level? I had a really bad migraine over the weekend and I thought of you. Funny how pain does that...
I think I'm a better human being to those around me, too. I sure try to be. That's really my only ambition now.
Funny you should ask about pain. I've been doing ok, but this morning I've been knocked flat by headache. Meds are controlling the pain, but my energy is zapped. I know I did too much because I was feeling better. I'm sorry you had migraine, too. You might check out the most recent post from Tamsin (commented above). She's got a poem about pain that's spot-on. It's weirdly comforting to find others who get it.
Chronic health challenges are non-trivial, and a shift in mindset one of the hardest habits to cultivate. I am super sorry you have this burden to bear, but I applaud you for the dedication you've managed to call forth and the willingness to keep massaging the tough spots. I must admit when I saw what you and Cane accomplished together for the neighbor my first thought was, "Woah...somebody's gonna be wiped out after that!" And there's that mindset thing again. I think as long as you're aware that your path is never going to move in a straight line, and that you have the ability to come back to center time and again, you'll make good progress. Thanks for taking a chance on this post, Rita, and for your honesty.
You have hit the nail squarely on the head: "I think as long as you're aware that your path is never going to move in a straight line, and that you have the ability to come back to center time and again, you'll make good progress." This is true of so many things, isn't it? Thank you for taking the time to stop in and cheer me on and remind me of this truth it can be easy to forget.
This resonates so much. So much. I shall revisit - thank you for writing it .