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.
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.
A trip to the suburbs originally intended for snowshoeing at the Morton Arboretum ended up being a trip to the Pottery Bayou in Naperville. A friend lives in near-by Lisle and because it was rainy and gross all day, we had to cancel our plan to try snowshoeing and instead chose to try our hands at painting pottery.
There was a child’s birthday party happening at the Pottery Bayou when we arrived, but we didn’t let all the screaming stop us from choosing our figures/dishes to paint. I couldn’t decide if the hubs and I needed a cookie jar, a chips/dip tray or a vase when I spotted a cute little teddy bear figure among the dragons and t-rexs. I immediately thought of a present for the baby. — When I say “the baby,” I am referring to my recently announced niece or nephew. That’s right, my sister is pregnant! I’ve known for some time now and she finally started telling people, so I decided it would be ok to have a fun thing (and a blog post) about making something for Little Baby J.
My sister likes yellow and grey together, so I decided to go with a grey bear with yellow accents and a green bow. It took me so long to paint three coats of glaze on this bear. For some reason, the detail was really difficult. I think it was just hard for me to get my hands in the right position to do the awkward spots like under his arms and around his face. My friend painted a whole chips/dip tray in the time it took me to do this little bear. But I did it with love and I’m so overjoyed to share this news. They still have to fire it, so the bear won’t be ready for ten days. (Maybe then we can go snowshoeing before picking it up).
Oh and on the bottom, I got to write “Love, Aunt Sarah.” The. Best. Heart = Full.
Dear Long-Handled Shoehorn,
Though our courtship has been a short one, I can already tell we will be partners for life. You are perfect for me. How you hang, so patiently nearby waiting for the moment when you can be useful. The way you guide my foot ever so gently in to my shoes. I feel like Cinderella!
Thank you for your support. Thank you for making life easier. Thank you for being exactly what you are and nothing else.
Let’s never break up, k?
xoxo
Sarah
Tonight the hubs and I engaged in some old school games. Like children, we challenged each other in the type of flirtatious competition known best known by fourth graders.
1. Staring Contest
The hubs is terrible at this. Apparently he “needs to blink a lot.” In each game we were going best of seven, and I shut him out.
2. Rock, Paper, Scissors
Again, I destroyed my competition through simple psychology. I always knew what he was about to throw down.
3. Thumb War
This is where my streak ends. Some may think it unfair to challenge a girl with RA to a thumb war, but I insisted on it and held my own with my left hand. Right handed, though, I was total toast.
It was a fun release at the end of a busy week for both of us. Now, we are going to cuddle up and watch Anchorman. Ahhh, childhood.
year of fun 