Skip to main content

Revel in the Goodness


 


This week my training took a hit. I got a bad cold and was also dealing with some stored stress and trauma that gave me a massive headache that lasted four days. If you've read The Body Keeps Score, you have read about how the body can hold onto traumatic events, and it can manifest repeatedly as physical pain and tension. There's an emotional component to this as well, but for today, I want to talk about the physical aspect because it blows my mind.

It's also made a huge difference in my healing. Knowing that sometimes the tension and anxiety is old and not actually happening in the moment can really help me to talk myself down in the moment. It also shows me when I need to give myself a break and be gentle.

So, I was going through it this past week, and I chose to adjust my goals for the week. It was the right decision, but it broke the momentum I had and causes some internal chaos. The ADHD brain is in full effect.

I didn't do a long run this week. I was supposed to do 10 miles, but I had no energy and couldn't breathe. Plus the intense tension in my back, neck, and shoulders and the massive headache. I couldn't even imagine putting my body through anything else. I did do short runs because being outside in the fresh air made me feel better, and movement would alleviate the pain for a little while. I brought Moo with me, and we had a great time.

This caused me once again to question which I want to do more; distance or a streak? I love running. I love distance running. But, I also love daily running. I feel like I kind of need it. Can I do it all? Do I need to define it? Like I said, my brain was going haywire. I still haven't made a decision about this one, honestly. We'll see what this next week brings.

Another thing I need to consider is the 30 day yoga challenge. I have committed to it, and I know it is benefitting me. I managed to do five days in a row, but then I needed a break. Everything else from the week made it really difficult, and restarting yoga also made me super sore - especially in my shoulders. I decided to take the weekend off. My shoulders hurt too much.

So, this week I am starting with Day 6. My challenge will take more than 30 days, I guess. I'm fine with that. I am feeling the benefits of last week's efforts, and I am ready for more. 

My meditation goals has been mostly on point for the week. I missed one day. I am really seeing the benefits of consistent meditation. It feels good to have control over my emotions. I've never had this before. I really enjoy not having to wallow in my sadness anymore. I'm seeing my growth, and I love it. 


The work to get here has been exhausting. There is no denying how hard it is to change and grow. Right now, I want to pause. I am tired. I want to continue the habits I have in place, but for now, that is plenty. I'm not adding more.

I read that with healing comes a lethargy. A lack of motivation. Because I have spent my entire life working to please everyone else. To be the person I thought I had to be. Constantly putting on a mask to try (and fail) to be accepted. Constantly trying to prove my worth and earn love. It's exhausting. Now, I am healing and learning to love and accept myself as I am. I don't really care about being anything else anymore. I don't have the energy or the interest anymore. I just want to rest. I've never felt like I could before now. It didn't feel safe.

I think the meditation and yoga are really showing me the value of the present moment, and by extension, the present me. It feels good. I am tired of living in the past. There is nothing for me there. Not then and not now. I have so much good around me, and I am learning now that I deserve it. I'm going to revel in it. For all the years I lost wallowing in my sadness, I am going to make up for it now. 

What goodness can you revel in today? 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fighting The Imposter

 January of 2023 can be summed up in two words: Imposter Syndrome. The beginning of the calendar year is always a battle. This year has actually been better than usual. The winter has been much warmer and gentler, and getting outside is so important for maintaining good mental health. Even so, it's been a bit rough. Every year has been improving, so I am hopeful that I'll have an even, calm January at some point. It's definitely getting closer. I had such lofty hopes this year. I always do. This year I did better with that, too, but I once again did not consider my January struggles when making my plans.  Anyway, back to the Imposter. One of my plans for the very start of the year was a virtual 5k for a group that I have been chosen to be an ambassador for in 2023. It's called Still I Run, and it's all about using running to help manage mental health. Part of being an ambassador is posting about how I use running to handle my own challenges. I was so excited to be s...

There's No Moving Forward While Looking Back

Today is my birthday. I am 42 years old. It’s an age I never expected to see. For my entire life, I believed I would not live past 40. I just couldn’t see past that point, and honestly, if things had not changed, if I had not changed, that definitely could have been the outcome. Luckily, I am doing the hard work and exploring the shadows of my past. Healing is far from easy. It hurts. At times, it sucks. But, then you start seeing the growth and the progress. You start to feel better. At 42, I am entering this unforeseen year actually, for the first time ever, truly loving myself. I am still working, and there is a lot still to do, but this is huge for me. I have a lifetime of hating myself - everything I could possibly think of, I hated vehemently. I am an emotional person, and the hatred was powerful. I took my bullies’ words and ran with them, committed them to memory, and lived by them. For a lifetime. Maybe it is a kind of death. Ego death? Not that I am claiming to not still fa...

The Most Vibrant Shade of Green

Beginning Week 2, and things have already hit a snag. I was sore last week and skipped the last run. My reasoning was that the first run of this week was the same workout. But... then I changed things up a bit... again.... I can never leave a plan alone. This time I had a somewhat good reason. I went for my first run outside in a while, and I also ran at one of me and Moo's usual running spots. It was not easy. It was a beautiful day and a perfect temperature. Everything is the most vibrant shade of bright green right now.  Something is definitely missing from this picture. I cried again during my run (which is mainly what changed my run today). It was less this time, though. Maybe I'll eventually get through one without crying at all.  The goal for the rest of this week is to get back on track with the training plan. It should be easier to get back out on the trails again now that I've done one. Today was too perfect to pass up. I'm glad I could go back. I do love runn...