We’ve all heard the saying “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” We hear it so much in terms of relationships. It’s true in so many other instances though. It home for me more recently in terms of my health. Doctor’s orders had me sitting out on something that I love. Of course, since I couldn’t do it, it became crystal clear to me how much I missed it, and how much I loved it.
I was told I had to pause my exercising for nearly two weeks for healing. Y’all, that hurt. You know how much I love to exercise and that it really is a huge part of my self-care routine. I know that it’s good for my mood and really puts me on the path to a good day. When it doesn’t happen, my mood is definitely different. That being said, I’m not exaggerating to say I was off.
On the struggle bus
Working out is second nature to me at this point. I had gotten to the point where I didn’t need to be motivated to do it. It was an act of discipline, a habit. Like making a cup of tea in the morning, I’d do it without having to think about it. It hadn’t always been that way. I can remember times when I needed to be in the mood to work out and if I wasn’t then it wasn’t gonna happen. So, having to sit out for a bit had me on the struggle bus. I decided to just focus on what I could do.
That looked like going for walks around my neighborhood. I still felt like I was doing something. It was a small pivot but one that helped me feel better. When they say movement is medicine, they’re not lying. Walking was just enough. I didn’t try to push it and walk for an hour or more. I kept them short and sweet.
What I get to do
Here’s what I know, I tend to keep a perspective of focusing on what I get to do and being thankful for the ways I get to move my body and what my body can do. Not being able to do my usual, made me even more grateful. Just making the small pivot to focus on what I could do was enough. It would have done me no good to think about all the stuff I wanted to do, usually do, or would like to do.
You see where I’m going here. This is about way more than exercise. It’s life. We are always thrown curve balls and have to decide if we’re going to pivot or pout. It’s humbling to go from where you were to where you are in any aspect of life. This was a small example of that for me.
Last week was my first week of being back at it. I didn’t go in trying to prove anything or get back to any certain point. I’m not going hard, just easing in. Slow and steady. After a setback, I’m so happy to be back here. I appreciate it even more.
