Because of my knees, I cannot really jump. I mean I guess if my life depended on it, I could do a few jumping jacks, but not well or pain-free. However, I could not resist laundry day’s unmade bed. My inner child forced me to climb up and start “jumping.” The hubs documented (because he wouldn’t join in) and I “ran” and “jumped” around until I just had to “fall” down. It was pretty fun and totally recommended for adults. Kids should probably ask permission first.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the hubs has been trying to challenge me to a game of chess. Here is my knowledge of chess: I know how the pieces move. I have maybe played twice. The hubs, however, has had this amazing chess set, that he brought back from a trip to India in his teens (it is made from the same marble as the Taj Mahal), on display ever since I’ve known him. Leading me to believe that he could be some kind of chess shark.
We sat on pillows on the floor–it only seemed appropriate–and proceeded to play a “pretty good” game of chess. I held my own defensively against his almost unending attacks. He probably had three times as many “checks” as I did before he beat me. It was definitely fun though. And required more brain power than the other games I usually play. Thanks, hubs, for insisting we do this!
I woke up this morning to a card next to my phone with my name on it. It was lovely and all about being married, partners. The hubs left right before I got up and I was in a daze, so I did not even notice him leaving the card. Thus the sweet start to our first married Valentine’s Day.
The plan was always that he would cook a surprise and I would take care of dessert. To me, this meant “buy something cuz I’ll be in the kitchen.” On the way home today, I picked up a 6″ flowerless chocolate cake (from Whole Foods). My responsibilities done, I proceeded to read the valentines we had received in the mail–one from my parents and one from my grandmother–and watch Kourtney and Kim Take Miami until I was summoned to the table.
Placed in front of me was this:
That’s a chicken pot pie and a kale salad with almonds and a strawberry vinaigrette dressing. DELICIOUS. He even bought new dishes to make and serve this dish that he knows is a favorite of mine.
We also enjoyed some lovely champagne, Laurent Perrier, a brand we’ve never tried but it is also DELICIOUS.
After a much needed food rest, we then tackled this:
Our first married Valentine’s Day was quiet and lovely. It was all fun, but I would say making the decision to have a quiet evening in (vs. the two more extravagant Valentine’s Days we’ve had in the past) was the most fun. And DELICIOUS.
The number one recommended free app in the App Store is 4 Pics 1 Word. It’s exactly what it sounds like. You look at four pictures and figure out the word they all have in common. (Like the one below is “bow”) When the hubs told me about it, I wasn’t that excited but it actually is a fun, mildly challenging game good for relaxing at the end of a long work day. Or I could just do yoga again 🙂
At the end of the day, I was struggling with my motivation to do something fun. I flipped through my HGTV Magazine looking for a quick decorating solution. The hubs tried to challenge me to a game of chess. Nothing inspired me to do anything. Then I started thinking about yoga. I’ve referenced the recent time in my life where I struggled more with RA than I ever remember struggling before. Well, before that, I was quite active; yoga a few times a week, walking the dog every day, taking public transit (which does require more physically than driving everywhere), etc.
Recently, I told myself I would get back in to yoga. I even looked up the gentle class schedule at my old studio and put classes on my calendar. But I never went. Tonight though, when I could think of nothing else to do, I went to the closet, dusted off my mat and started a solo practice. I felt rusty and old. My bones were creaking and popping. I could barely get down to sit on the ground on my own. I couldn’t put too much pressure on my wrists or left shoulder, which made it near impossible to do planks or downward dogs let alone move between those poses and standing. BUT I did what I could and I actually felt good about it. After just 15 minutes of rusty practice, I felt strong, challenged (in that good way) and relaxed.
I admitted to the hubs later that I had been scared to try again for fear of failure. I know it is something many people struggle with all the time, but fear can be so paralyzing, no matter what it is that scares you. Yet once you set your mind to conquering it, the rewards are so gratifying!
I’m thinking now about how to tailor a practice to my specific needs that flows the way yoga should and maybe works in elements of physical therapy as well. More on that to come I’m sure. Tonight ended up being a lot more fun and empowering than I thought it would be.
year of fun 