I was having a conversation with my Dad awhile ago and as someone who lives with pain too...he knows how it feels. I was having a rough day after doing a lot the day before and as always...Dad was very supportive. He took the time to remind me that it's okay to stop, to rest and take a break and to just take things easy on the days when I need too.
"Babe", he says..."when you're out walking you need to sit and take a break every once in awhile."
"I can't do that!" I tell him..."my body will catch up with me then!"
Dad just laughs and says...."yeah I know but you still can't push yourself too hard eh?"
Because I don't drive anymore...I'm walking a lot! almost everywhere I go...I go on my own two feet. And that means I have to push myself to walk even when I don't feel much like walking. There are days when I can get up to the grocery store and the mall and I'm managing okay, but by the time I walk around the stores getting what I need...I'm dragging my butt home, aching more and more as I go.
"Babe", he says..."when you're out walking you need to sit and take a break every once in awhile."
"I can't do that!" I tell him..."my body will catch up with me then!"
Dad just laughs and says...."yeah I know but you still can't push yourself too hard eh?"
Because I don't drive anymore...I'm walking a lot! almost everywhere I go...I go on my own two feet. And that means I have to push myself to walk even when I don't feel much like walking. There are days when I can get up to the grocery store and the mall and I'm managing okay, but by the time I walk around the stores getting what I need...I'm dragging my butt home, aching more and more as I go.
Yes there are times when I wish I could just sit for a bit, but I know too that if I do? I'll need a crane to get my body back up and moving again. I'll hurt worse than I did before I sat down and I'll be stiff and sore when I do get back up...my body will have caught up with me.
If I can keep myself going...if I can talk myself into a positive frame of mind...if I can play my music to keep my mind off my pain...I can usually keep myself going and ahead of my pain till I can get home. And then? well then I crash! When I'm home...I can let my body catch up with me...but while I'm out and about? I do my best to keep ahead of it and on top of it.
Sometimes it works and I'll admit...sometimes it doesn't...sometimes I have to give in and I have to sit. I used to beat myself up for taking a break (for giving in as I used to call it)...but not anymore! While I'm sitting, I take the time now to rub my sore legs, back and other body parts too and I take the time to tell myself...it's okay to rest, you've gotten a lot done. I focus on my breathing, and I think about days spent on the beach and it feels good. I tell myself...you're almost done, you're almost home, you can do this...and when you're home... you can get into your comfy clothes and you can relax. It's okay! You can do it!
Have you ever had to push yourself and your body beyond your pain? How do you keep your pain from catching up with your activities? How do you soothe, talk to and care for yourself when this happens to you?
Now that we're living a hurting life...there will be days when we will feel like we can tackle the world and there will be days when we will feel up and ready for it but need to take a break...and then there will be days when we will have to push ourselves to even think. But what really matters most...is what we do to help ourselves through our days. It matters how we talk to ourselves! It matters what we do to help ourselves! It matters! and you know what? so do we!
take good care of you please
If I can keep myself going...if I can talk myself into a positive frame of mind...if I can play my music to keep my mind off my pain...I can usually keep myself going and ahead of my pain till I can get home. And then? well then I crash! When I'm home...I can let my body catch up with me...but while I'm out and about? I do my best to keep ahead of it and on top of it.
Sometimes it works and I'll admit...sometimes it doesn't...sometimes I have to give in and I have to sit. I used to beat myself up for taking a break (for giving in as I used to call it)...but not anymore! While I'm sitting, I take the time now to rub my sore legs, back and other body parts too and I take the time to tell myself...it's okay to rest, you've gotten a lot done. I focus on my breathing, and I think about days spent on the beach and it feels good. I tell myself...you're almost done, you're almost home, you can do this...and when you're home... you can get into your comfy clothes and you can relax. It's okay! You can do it!
Have you ever had to push yourself and your body beyond your pain? How do you keep your pain from catching up with your activities? How do you soothe, talk to and care for yourself when this happens to you?
Now that we're living a hurting life...there will be days when we will feel like we can tackle the world and there will be days when we will feel up and ready for it but need to take a break...and then there will be days when we will have to push ourselves to even think. But what really matters most...is what we do to help ourselves through our days. It matters how we talk to ourselves! It matters what we do to help ourselves! It matters! and you know what? so do we!
take good care of you please
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