Update:
I’ve slept well the
last few nights and sometimes wake up a few minutes before the 4:30 a.m. alarm
(of course I get to go back to bed for another 90 minutes sleep after my wife
leaves for work so that I get about 7
hours sleep/night). My stump is still slightly tender but seems
to be returning to “normal.” Yesterday when it ached, the nerve endings
that got banged up were telling my brain that my ankle or my toes were
injured. It is kind of freaky looking at your amputation site when the
brain tells you that your foot hurts that is no longer there.
It took me some time
to organize all the new medical appointments and come to grips with all the new
information that I received yesterday. I finally got my health insurance
policy in the mail (about 25 days later than expected. I still haven’t
received my ID card that everyone asks for. “It’s in the mail.”). I spent
some time reading through the information trying to understand how it all
works. I called the service center to find out exactly what was covered
under the vision section. I’ve needed new glasses for some time and it is
really time to get them.
Getting the good news
yesterday and feeling like I am moving forward really helped me desire to do my
daily exercises this morning. Just got to keep focused upon the goal and
work every day towards it. I’ve already noticed increased muscle and
strength developing. In the end, I will be in much better shape than I
was prior to my amputation. I usually play music while I am exercising
and found that it helps as well, especially if I can time my bicycle exercise
with a fast song—helps to keep my rhythm up.
I was able to go work
at the office again on Tuesday afternoon. Didn’t necessarily get much
accomplished but I did get some things done. Karen picked me up about
6:15 p.m. and we went home to hibernate. It is supposed to get up to 20
degrees today. Break out the swim suits!!! We are within a couple
of days of setting a record for the most days below zero for a high temp during
the winter season. We should set that new record easily
unfortunately. I heard some people wondering what kind of spring we would
have this year. It feels like we deserve a reward of a pretty spring to
make up for the extreme cold we’ve had this winter.
I spent most of
Tuesday evening working on loading a software program that helps track my blood
sugar and insulin use. I got the program
set up and most of my personal data is entered.
My meter downloaded all the readings but I have to enter the glucose
amounts by hand. I’ll spend part of
Wednesday entering that data. The
program has charting features and prints a nice table so it will be easier to
track trends and manage my sugars. It also prints reports so it will be easy
taking the information to the doctor.
Thought
for the Day:
Here are two quotes that I really like that I got
from one of my firefighters (Thanks, Kellyn!).
The quotes are from Walter Anderson, I don’t know much about him yet;
but I like what he says in these quotes (German writer, 1885-1962).
“I am responsible.
Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am
responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life.”
“Bad things do
happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life.
I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my
loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift
I have - life itself.”
In John Maxwell’s
book “The Difference Maker” he cites five perspectives that we need to have in
facing problems:
- 1. Problems are everywhere, and everybody has some.
- 2. Our perspective on the problem, not the problem itself, usually determines our success or failure.
- 3. There is a difference between problem spotting and problem solving.
- 4. The size of the person is more important than the size of the problem.
- 5. Problems responded to correctly, can actually advance us forward.
Whatever we face,
we must remember to get the proper perspective on it. It doesn’t help us to
have a “pity poor me party” or to just give up in defeat without even trying. Depending on the size of the problem, it may
take us a bit of “mental recalibration” to get into the proper state of
mind.
The other day someone
asked me how I was doing. I told them
how content and satisfied that I was and how optimistic I am looking towards
the future. I guess they couldn’t fathom
me having those attitudes and so then said, “No, really, how are you doing?” I told them that I really am feeling that
way. I am not trying to say things that
I think people want to hear. I am
definitely not saying things that I think are the correct answer, even if I don’t
feel that way. I am telling you the
truth. I do admit that there a have been
two days when I had some news that knocked me back a bit and it took several
hours to process and get back up on top of things. But that kind of goofy, positive outlook,
happily contented person is who I truly am and how I truly feel.
It would be easy
to sink into a depression and feel sorry for myself. But what good would that do me? It would make living with me all that more
difficult for my wife. I’ve taken some
hard knocks—but the fight isn’t over and I still think I can take it. So bring it on! When I was in the prosthetic lab the other
day, I saw a motivational poster of a man strapping on his prosthetic leg with
the caption, “LIFE: Some Assembly Required.”
I like that!!
To help combat the
mental drag down towards depression and despair, I do a number of things daily
that work for me (these are in order of importance with #1 being the most important):
1
Spiritual: I read a portion of
scripture every day. I read until an
idea or thought pops off of the page and into my mind. Then I pray.
I start my prayers talking to God about what I just read and what I need
to learn from it, etc. Then I ask for “my
daily bread.” That is His provisions for
what I need that day: food, shelter, love, strength, encouragement, etc. Knowing He is there to assist me and He goes
with me every step of the way gives me courage to keep moving forward.
Mental:
I really am in the process of reading eight different books on
suffering, pain, and attitude, etc. (I have five more books lined up to read
when these are done). I only read about a chapter (or a section) in each
book. I pick up the first one and keep
reading until I hit something that really hits my heart or my mind (these
things usually end up as my “Thought for the Day”). Some days I find that in the first book. Some days, I read all eight and haven’t quite
got it. I usually find that someone will
have just what I need posted on Face Book or find an article on-line. I am constantly pushing good, quality stuff
into my mind to challenge my thinking. I
choose not to dwell on the negative and despondent thoughts. Some times that takes mental energy to not go
down that path—but the more you train your mind to not go there—the easier that
becomes.
3
Physical: I keep pushing myself to do a
few more reps of exercise, or to find a new one to add to my routine. I started out doing stretching and mobility
exercises that the doctor prescribed. He
gave me about 10 that I was supposed to do twice a day. I’ve added about 20 additional ones and have
increased the number of reps on them all.
I also started lifting some light weights—things I can do sitting on the
edge or lying on the bed with dumbbells.
I started out with 5 lbs., and then it was 10 lbs., now I am at 12 lbs. It is time to start using the next size
up.
Relationship and Interaction: I am
spending time with my wife every day (that’s why I get up at 4:30 a.m.) and
Saturday evenings are our “night out.” I
am spending more time talking to or texting my adult children. I draw a lot of strength and support from my
family. Being able to see people from
church, the police and fire departments gives me a boost as well. It helps connect me to others and reminds me
that I have something waiting for me to return to (a goal to push towards). I also keep hearing about people who are
struggling with illness or disease who have it much worse than I do—that keeps
me from being “me-centered” all the time.
Nutrition and Health: I am eating well—good healthy, nutritious
food and not cheating on my diet at all (I have drooled at a few pictures of
chocolate desserts on Face Book, but nothing has touched my lips). No junk food or drinks with sugars or
sweeteners. I am trying to follow doctor’s
orders down to the T. I get at least
seven hours sleep a night. Staying warm
has been a bit of a challenge this winter.
Work and Activities: I am slowly increasing my workload and the
activities that I do outside of my daily routine. I am getting stronger and have more stamina,
but it takes a huge amount of energy just to get up, clean up and get dressed
for the day. I have to monitor my energy
levels so I am able to do the things that I have to get done. Other things that I don’t have time or energy
for have fallen by the wayside at this time.
I just cannot do it all.
That’s my list and
it works for me. You have to find what
works for you. But try to find ways to
feed your heart, your head, your soul, and your body. You’ll be a better, happy person for it. The motto: “LIFE: Some Assembly Required” is
not just for amputees putting on their prosthetics. It is for each one of us to choose the life
we live and in the process become better people for it.
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