Heeding Advice and Enjoying Life

With any ailment, you get advice. Some of it is nice, sane, logical, and seems plausible - like rest, hydrate, elevate, ice it, if pain starts - stop what I am doing, etc. This is possible. You can do it. And some of it, not so much - keep elevated for at least 30 minutes out of each hour or at least 5 portions of fruits or vegetables with every meal. Really? I can try for that. And finally, some of it is just plain impossible - lose 30 pounds or non-weight bearing at all times for six weeks or anything that is just too restrictive to handle.

My point is I get a lot of advice from my doctors, and a lot of other people. I selectively heed it. I mean if I listened to everyone I wouldn't have a life, I would be really boring. And there is a point where I just can't do any more.

I have made the following life changes in recent years:

• I gave up smoking. I never was a heavy smoker (5 cigarettes a day) but I did smoke for a long time. 
• I exercise three times a week. I get 60 minutes of cardio and then 30 minutes of weights and resistance training, followed by stretching.
• I try to eat healthy. Fruit and vegetables are a big part of my diet. I also skip packaged food as much as possible. I avoid desserts and a lot of sugar as much as possible. I skip salt as much as possible.
• I pace myself and get rest and make sure I do not over do things. 
• I take my medications as directed, go to my doctor appointments, and listen to my doctors.

But there are other things I am not going to give up:

• Wine. I like drinking wine. I enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. I do not go bar hopping (in fact I can't remember the last time I went to a bar). But I like a glass of wine.
• Red meat and bacon. I don't eat bacon cheese burgers all the time. But a nice steak on the grill or bacon for breakfast sometimes is nice.
• Gardening. I have been told not to sweep, vacuum, rake, mop, lift weights, bend down, or carry things. But I love my garden. I want to grow my garden (more healthy veggies). I can get myself in a lot of pain by gardening. So I leave all the heavy lifting to my husband but I get out in my garden every day I can.
• Bad TV and romance novels. Why not? Its my brain (or what's left of it) to rot.

What it comes down to is I need to be able to enjoy my life. I want to enjoy my food and drink. I want to do things I like to do. I can't be boring.

I Overdid Things

Who me? Yes. But I had a lot of fun. We have house guests and yesterday we went to the Boston Harbor Islands and out to dinner. I had planned not to do too much but I guess I don't follow even my own directions too well.

We drove to Boston and parked in the really close but expensive parking garage. We got on the boat and I sat. Then we went to Georges Island where I sat and did not walk around. Then we got back on the boat and I sat. Then we went out to dinner and came home. I was exhausted. Everything hurt.

Today I will pay the price. I will do a lot of nothing. Well one of our house guests is going to show me how to use my new 4 harness loom (it looks very complicated). Another friend is coming over for dinner and to knit. I will do a lot of sitting and maybe even lie down for a few hours. Tomorrow after brunch I will also plan on lying down.

But it was a great time.

Doing Too Much!

Of course I have over-scheduled myself for the next few days weeks. I am going to hate myself.

It all started when we decided to have a party, sort of an open house. Originally we thought we would do it in the middle of January, just after we moved in. Obviously that schedule was pushed back. Finally we bit the bullet and picked this Saturday as the date. (And if you are looking for your invitation, maybe its in your spam filter.) So we have a few things to do this week.

I have to finish painting our bedroom. Its been half painted since the end of March. I put on a coat of primer last week and the first coat of paint this morning. I have to finish before the cleaning lady comes on Wednesday. (We don't want it to look half painted at our party because it is just plain ugly half painted.)

I also have to do laundry (5 loads give or take) and dig up some jerusalem artichokes from a friend tomorrow. Later this week I have two training phone calls for my replacements at work, getting my hair and nails done (I can be such a girl), my knitting group, the grocery store, start preparing food, have the party and then collapse.

But I can't collapse. Sunday I promised myself I would go to the NH Sheep and Wool festival.  I am going if it kills me. I just learned about Sheep and Wool festivals from someone in my knitting group. Who knew they happen all over the place every spring. I can't wait. If I have any energy at all I am going.

I know I am doing way too much. I know its not going to easy on me. But we have really looked forward to the party. And I really want to go to the Sheep and Wool festival. These are both important to me. I know its going to be a lot. But I will make sure I get plenty of sleep and rest between all these activities.

Part of being me, I keep doing what is important to me. I am not going to give in to all my ailments and sit around. I also want to enjoy myself.

A plateau

Right now I seem to be at a plateau. My health has not gone too wonky in the past few months. I have nothing looming which should change this. 'Should' is the operative word here as there are no guarantees with life in cancerland. But I am feeling optimistic.

Physically I feel okay, except for my back which is having a procedure in a few weeks which should help with the pain I am having. Okay, well my feet are another story but I have a new pair of shoes which should help.

Emotionally I think I am in a fairly good place as well. Most of my emotional problems are the result of physical problems. My continued physical downward spiral in the last seven years has taken a huge toll on me emotionally. Every year I can look back and think "I could do that last year but this year I can't even think of it". How's that for the fun part of life?

But I feel I am at some nice stable plateau where I can continue with my life and not fall apart anytime soon (I hope). My stress level is down. My fall craft season is looming which will hog all weekends from Veterans Day to Christmas as well as take up a lot of my spare time as I always have something to work on.

I guess this means I am doing all right for now.