Wallow or Swallow?
Yesterday, I spent my usual Wednesday afternoon with my craft buddies. Most of us are retired nurses. We do our crafts and we care and support one another. I have not been writing many blogs or e-mails all summer because I have been dealing with a great deal of pain in my hip.
As we shared together, we talked about dealing with our issues. I was reminded of my father who live with arthritis his entire life from his early twenties until his mid-nineties. Every once in a while, he would push his lazy boy chair back and say: “mind over matter”. He used the power of his mind to help control the pain. This is a lesson that I am forever grateful for.
Thank-fully, I have known that it is important for me to manage my pain and not let the pain manage me. What we focus on expands! Is it difficult? Yes it can be. Does the pain win sometimes? Yes, but I refuse to let it stop me from pushing through and living my life. There is always someone who is worse off than me!
Hence, the words “wallow” or “swallow” are written here. I can choose to wallow in self- pity, or I can swallow it up and do everything I can to help myself. When I attend my craft group and other activities, I am swallowing it up to do something I enjoy that also distracts me. I am aware that everyone has their own story.
It is not pleasant to endure this kind of pain but my body is sending me a huge message to take care of it. There are lots of issues as we age. How we deal with them is up to us.
What is most important in all of this is that you advocate for your own health. Only you know when your body is off, but you only know this if you listen to the signals it gives you. Pain is one of those signals.
Do you listen to your body? It is one of the things I will be able to speak to when my new coaching program starts in the near future. Stay tuned!
Yours in growing awareness
Maureen
