Jan 2, 2011: A new year!
There is something about the new year that always makes me evaluate my life. It is a common mile-marker that allows all of us to take stock and for me is an obvious time to look at where I was, how far I've come and where I'm going. As mentioned before, my word for the year is 'Discipline', which is always easier to say than to stick to doing. But my thought is that if I use it as a mantra it might actually sink in.
In addition to this blog I also keep a diary on my computer with even more personal observations. Reviewing the entries for the last couple years has been extremely encouraging because this year is starting with vast improvements in a couple different areas. The first, and most obvious, is in my health. As mentioned in the summer I started to feel better in spring of last year and that improvement has remained. It seems to make sense that it was two and a half years that my body needed to recuperate. There are things that are still guaranteed to get my heart rate up and uncomfortably short of breath: stairs remain my most regular nemesis, anything that gets my heart rate over 100, inclines, fluid overload, upper body stress. But what I can do now compared with this time last year is the best improvement since I got sick, and that is cause for celebration. My sternum still hurts daily, still have to hold my chest when I laugh or cough, it hurts to raise a window, but there is rarely pain around the thoracotomy area unless I've overexerted. The 'pump-head' sensation when I got tired is almost gone, which is a real relief. My foot is pretty good as long as I have my orthotics in and supportive footwear, it won't tolerate even good slippers for very long. It still seems on the delicate side, but I hope will continue to strengthen. The SOB, heart rate and foot would all be improved by dropping 25 pounds and this is a reasonable goal for the year.
Illness has been for many years a leading cause of people's bankruptcy. You just don't realize the number of things that cost you money, outside of the obvious increase in co-pays for both medicine and office visits, until you are sick. So, despite my moving into the house with a rental unit, finances have remained an issue, obviously a common problem in the current economy. I count myself very fortunate to have had a job with benefits through all of this, better than many people have had with or without health issues. But, knock wood, things seem to be caught up on now after adjusting to my decreased income from 'before sick', then having to renovate the rental unit, then Zerla's outlandishly high vet bills. So my goal for this year is to try and actually get a little money into savings. Being practical, my assumption is that over time I won't have my current level of heart function, it would be doubtful that I could work into my 60s. So, as with anyone, the more financially secure then the more options. It will mean some sacrifices and yes, discipline!
While with the goal of climbing Rattlesnake I was very good about walking in the spring and summer but that has fallen by the wayside as I started to do yoga, most often twice a week. But my goal now is some exercise every day: yoga at least one day without a class and the other days walking either outside or on the treadmill.
Doing my crystal therapies has been really beneficial for me. Yes, many would consider it 'out there', but it has no side effects, seems to really resonate with me and certainly isn't doing any harm. Added to this is the need to go back to scrap booking--the family album is years behind as well as wanting to get my trips into books. My best one was the Egypt scrapbook, done while I was restricted at home for two weeks straight with the 'asthma' attack. And I kinda went nuts on eBay last year in buying up things cheaply from people who were switching over to doing scrap booking on their computers, which takes away all the therapeutic value I experience by working with my hands to create.
So, reviewing where I've come to now has been a very positive experience for the start of 2011. I'm feeling better, have the chance for increasing financial security, am more active and generally happier. I hope that next year's review is even more positive, following a year of real discipline.
Wishes for your own positive life review and for increasing health and prosperity to you and yours! Thanks for checking in, Laurie
In addition to this blog I also keep a diary on my computer with even more personal observations. Reviewing the entries for the last couple years has been extremely encouraging because this year is starting with vast improvements in a couple different areas. The first, and most obvious, is in my health. As mentioned in the summer I started to feel better in spring of last year and that improvement has remained. It seems to make sense that it was two and a half years that my body needed to recuperate. There are things that are still guaranteed to get my heart rate up and uncomfortably short of breath: stairs remain my most regular nemesis, anything that gets my heart rate over 100, inclines, fluid overload, upper body stress. But what I can do now compared with this time last year is the best improvement since I got sick, and that is cause for celebration. My sternum still hurts daily, still have to hold my chest when I laugh or cough, it hurts to raise a window, but there is rarely pain around the thoracotomy area unless I've overexerted. The 'pump-head' sensation when I got tired is almost gone, which is a real relief. My foot is pretty good as long as I have my orthotics in and supportive footwear, it won't tolerate even good slippers for very long. It still seems on the delicate side, but I hope will continue to strengthen. The SOB, heart rate and foot would all be improved by dropping 25 pounds and this is a reasonable goal for the year.
Illness has been for many years a leading cause of people's bankruptcy. You just don't realize the number of things that cost you money, outside of the obvious increase in co-pays for both medicine and office visits, until you are sick. So, despite my moving into the house with a rental unit, finances have remained an issue, obviously a common problem in the current economy. I count myself very fortunate to have had a job with benefits through all of this, better than many people have had with or without health issues. But, knock wood, things seem to be caught up on now after adjusting to my decreased income from 'before sick', then having to renovate the rental unit, then Zerla's outlandishly high vet bills. So my goal for this year is to try and actually get a little money into savings. Being practical, my assumption is that over time I won't have my current level of heart function, it would be doubtful that I could work into my 60s. So, as with anyone, the more financially secure then the more options. It will mean some sacrifices and yes, discipline!
While with the goal of climbing Rattlesnake I was very good about walking in the spring and summer but that has fallen by the wayside as I started to do yoga, most often twice a week. But my goal now is some exercise every day: yoga at least one day without a class and the other days walking either outside or on the treadmill.
Doing my crystal therapies has been really beneficial for me. Yes, many would consider it 'out there', but it has no side effects, seems to really resonate with me and certainly isn't doing any harm. Added to this is the need to go back to scrap booking--the family album is years behind as well as wanting to get my trips into books. My best one was the Egypt scrapbook, done while I was restricted at home for two weeks straight with the 'asthma' attack. And I kinda went nuts on eBay last year in buying up things cheaply from people who were switching over to doing scrap booking on their computers, which takes away all the therapeutic value I experience by working with my hands to create.
So, reviewing where I've come to now has been a very positive experience for the start of 2011. I'm feeling better, have the chance for increasing financial security, am more active and generally happier. I hope that next year's review is even more positive, following a year of real discipline.
Wishes for your own positive life review and for increasing health and prosperity to you and yours! Thanks for checking in, Laurie
posted by Laurie @ 3:21 PM
1 Comments:
At 5:05 AM,
Anonymous said…
Laurie,
Hey thanks for updating, glad to hear the feeling of health is still increasing, the mindset of being improved will only greatly assist you in continuing to improve the physical health.!
remember the strong feeling of discipline when you exercised when you did want to when you trained for the climb... that focus will continue to help you this year if you can reflect back to it! I stink at math but look at it this way 25lbs for a year goal is something like less than 0.068 pds a day! now that seems an reachable goal!
hears to a new year and a new disciplined/lighter you!
Deneen
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