Hi! It’s getting towards the end of the year, so I thought I should check in!
Exhausted is the general status. The sciatica pain is draining. I heard someone say recently that a 4 on the pain chart is not normal, 0 is. Lately it seems like 5-7 is my normal. Complaining about it doesn’t help, just setting a foundation or backdrop for the story of 2020. There’s wonderful new, however! After 6 steroid injections over the past year, PT, stretching, rest, ice, heat, massage, chiropractor, neurologist, neurosurgeon, pain meds, and constant prayers… I might have finally arrived at some answers! I was looking for an acupuncturist/chiropractor in my network, and stumbled upon a local clinic. The head doctor has been in practice for 44 years! After watching his video and meeting with him, I learned a lot. He talks a lot too, but is just trying to share so much knowledge! Long and short of it, we’re doing acupressure and cool packs to loosen up and calm down inflammation in the muscles in my lower back/sciatic area. I’ve been in 4 or 5 times and there’s a sliver of relief! When you’re chronic pain is at a 5-7, a sliver is life changing! Mix that with hope, and I feel like I have a new life! Insurance covering this and all the homeopathic options at the clinic is just the icing on the cake! And the doctor is a believer, so cherry on top!!
Speaking of icing, cake, and such… the pandemic has added ~30 pounds to my life, how about you? It’s a chicken and egg scenario though. Lack of movement – pain – emotional/boredom eating – try to move more resulting in more pain – general depression of pandemic lifestyle. I’m not sure where it all started, but I know it has to stop. I might not have a lot of control over a lot of circumstances right now, but I canto make the choice to eat well and get some movement in everyday. I need to move my focus off of where I’ve been and press forward. Not only looking back at the pain and complacency, but also at all the “I used to be able to…” memories. 5k’s, 10k’s, lifting, squatting, etc. They all need to be lessons learned but I need new goals now.
Still formulating those goals! Weight loss, obviously, but maybe that’s more of a consequence rather than a goal. Walking a mile would be nice, a 1/4 mile right now is difficult. Reducing sugar and convenience food consumption because sugar is a pain trigger and getting healthy starts in the kitchen.
Finances… a whole other pain in my life! I thought of going back to school for something “easy” to paused the student loan payments, but I’ve tried this path before. Let’s not keep up the insanity! I was, finally, able to get my budget back in the black for 2021, unfortunately it means removing all extras. Extras like getting my hair and nails done, and other self-care activities. But, it’ll keep a roof over my head. I’ve done a couple photo shoots recently and trying to sell some art, which helps some.
Other good things going on… work is busy! Mental health care is essential, so we’re not going anywhere. We’ve been hiring like crazy and the agency is coming out of 2020 doing well. Church is good, we’re actually seeing more people join us in person and online. I’m really liking setting up the presentation slides and running all that every week. Even though I’m home a lot more these days, my cats have definitely not tired of it, still snuggly as ever.
Christmas is this week! May yours be Merry and Bright! Even as the world grows darker and scarier, the One whose birth we celebrate, is still alive and on the Throne. He loves us so much, even in birth as a baby and death as a criminal. The Resurrection, it’s not just for Easter!
“I celebrate the day, That You were born to die, So I could one day pray for You to save my life” – Relient K’s I Celebrate the Day
Bragging on the Lord 