Patience

I often find the hardest thing to do is have patience with myself. Usually this means patience when I'm sick and don't "get well quick enough" to suit my needs. It's also though, patience with my body, and where I think I should be at with my exercise, or weight, or general well being.

When I first started exercising, my goal was to walk 5 days for one week. Then again for another week, then for 2 more weeks to make it a month. That 4th week though, I got sick and didn't walk.

I wanted to start strength training after my first month of walking. This would be, just after I met with my personal coach at the Y. For reasons I don't remember now, I had to reschedule that meeting. I finally got to meet with her earlier in the month. I am totally delighted at the routine she's set up for me, alternating upper and lower body workouts for alternating days of the week.

Before the meeting with my coach happened, I hurt my back somehow. Chiropractor says it's a pinched sciatic nerve, possibly from sitting too long in one position. Massage therapist thinks I overstrained my back muscles when I was painting my studio office, muscles that don't normally get used. And because I didn't care for them properly after, the rebelled on me to create these tight spots in sections that are apparently related despite being in different areas (upper v lower back). I don't know. All I know is, I still have some lower back pain when I sit for too long. Anyhow, my chirpractor thinks its best to hold off on any more strength training until I've given my back more time to recover.

So, it's easy for me to feel frustrated at my body. I'd be pretty foolish to yell at it "Hurry up and get better darnit!!! You're slowing me down!" but that's the equivalent feeling of frustration I have. Instead I guess I should be treating it like a loved one with a cold, tucking it in, making sure it keeps warm, gets enough rest, eats to nourish itself, and give it some love and pampering. It's the only body I've got.

And yeah, I didn't go walking today. I feel bad about that. I still have sneezing fits, and coughing. I got up when the alarm went off, went to the bathroom, and immediately just wanted to go back to bed. So I did. It felt like I was using the cold as an excuse to go back to bed. Where is the logic in that?

Alright, time to get ready for work. Have a great day y'all.