What next?

Our health department just posted a new Public Service Announcement notifying county residents that the small local hospital has twice now had to divert patients. The ER has been full along with all the beds. I think it was interesting that our tiny local paper didn't pick up that story. I don't want to be an alarmist, but there it is in plain language.

We had a 2 hour drive to the Mad-City VA yesterday and even though I usually hate the drive, it was a nice break from hanging around the farm and staring at the same walls each day.

We even had a picnic in the car on the way back home after we ordered food from Culvers. The good news is that ENT has released him from any more follow ups for his throat cancer. The doctor said he was marked as a survivor.

The ENT doctor also insisted that he get to see his Primary Doctor since she hasn't seen him for nearly two years. Last year, her check up was by phone and even though he was doing better last year, his health has declined since then and he needs a reassessment. 

Other changes are occurring too. I'm going in a different direction than working out at the gym or doing Virtual Workouts at home. I tried that routine and was fairly successful at it but when the outdoor temps dropped way below zero, I lost interest in trying to work out in the shed.

This morning I did a 20 minute Beginners Yoga session with a YouTube video instructor. I am a real skeptic and always thought Yoga was not a real workout or thing. 
After the 20 minutes, my back, hips, and shoulders felt great as well as my mental attitude and how was that even possible?

I followed that up with a morning walk to the ridge and back just to see how it felt and I think I had more clarity and focus to start my day.

Yoga? Pilates? My son said try Pilates if you want pain! 

My next goals? More of the same. Strength, balance, endurance, and a new addition. Mindfulness and inner calm.

If this mornings events are any indication ... it will be a win win for me through the fall and winter.

It is very refreshing to go away and take a break,

to clear your head,

and just get into something else.

~Francois Nars

Up and at 'em

The alarm rings and I grab for it. Some mornings of course I am awake before that 4:30 ding a ling.

I consider not getting up but then I remember the CrossFit thing I've committed myself to.
And I get up and smile through my first cup of coffee.

Some folks around me don't voice it but I'm sure they may be thinking...
"Has she gone daffy?"

During the WOD or workout portion of rowing, burpees, rope jumping, lifting, or pull ups [each workout is modified to my ability as a beginner...] ... I feel my parts saying NO NO! And my mind is saying please yes!

My workout mates gather around and cheer me on if I am doing something hard, or I find myself cheering another on, or helping him/her put things away or set them up.
I've found a clan of nutty people.

And suddenly that alarm is no longer intrusive in the morning, but awakens me with a smile.

And then when I do drive home...
I get these views...

And yes, I even do that early workout before driving to Madison for appointments.
Well, as long as the appointments for Rich aren't too early themselves. It is a 2 hr drive and I have to get him up and awake which is a job in itself.

This week is no piece of cake in the appointment department. But the all day endorphines seem to help.

Oh yes. I do give myself breaks. The other morning I slept in until 6:30. However my day felt off somehow.

Rich is doing okay. Speech Therapy is proving to be extremely frustrating for him and he can't let go of the fact that language and writing used to be so easy. And now some days it is impossible or he feels it is impossible.

Those mornings though are something else.

I have a purpose with each waking day.

I can handle the difficult issues that keep coming up each day with a bit of a better tempermant. This is why I get up and do CrossFit.

And ...
why not?
Tomorrow we get to RUN! OHHH my favorite!