Update:
First of all I should tell you that I completely forgot about writing
an Update/Thought until late afternoon on Monday. By the time I realized it, it was too late
for me to write and post it. Sorry about
that but I have to confess that I had a wonderfully relaxing day and enjoyed
every minute of it—it turned out to be nice having the extra time due to not
writing on Monday morning. And now,
“He’s baaack!”
The wedding went well on Saturday.
The couple is happily married and begun their new life together. They’ve even updated their status on
FaceBook, so it’s official.
Sunday morning we had a full house at church with family coming in to
be with their moms. Karen and I went out
to Red Robin for lunch after church. It
is her favorite place to go. And it was
LOUD! I think they designed the room to
amplify the sound to give it energy and make it seem more exciting. That’s my biggest complaint against Red
Robin. It was full of families
celebrating and I got an instant headache from the noise. Otherwise we had a nice meal. Afterwards Karen and I went home and we watched
a few episodes of Star Gate SG-1 together.
In the evening, I rode with the police and my wife got a bit extra sleep.
Monday morning we slept in and ate a late breakfast (8 a.m. instead of
5:15 a.m.). I spent the morning reading
a novel, taking a shower, putting away some things that I had just dropped into
a pile last week, taking a short nap before lunch, making a few appointments
for later this week, folded my laundry and did some ironing. I did a few other jobs around the house and
then it was time to meet a couple at the church for pre-marital
counseling. I got home about 8:45 p.m.,
watched TV for a short while, and then started writing this update. Soon it was time to start getting ready for
bed. Taking my leg off, washing my
silicone liner and my stump, washing my right foot and then inspecting my foot
and my stump for any sores or red marks, and then putting on my shrinker sock
are now a part of my bedtime routine.
And as I lay my head down on my pillow, my eyes popped open and I could
not get to sleep until well after midnight.
Ever have one of those nights? The
4:30 a.m. alarm goes off much too soon the next morning!
Thought for the Day:
I think that I forgot to mention that last week I purchased a pair of
jeans that I can wear over my prosthesis.
I’ve basically been stuck wearing sweat pants or track warm-up pants
since my amputation. I don’t think I can
put into words how comforting it is to wear a pair of blue jeans again. It helps me feel “normal.” It is another piece of my old life that I can
claim back, and that feels so good.
Amazing what such a simple thing can mean and how good it makes me feel
to do it. “Therapeutic” is a good word
to describe what wearing jeans does for me.
I never could have imagined what putting on a pair of jeans and walking
out of the house would do for my mental health and state of wellbeing. I never suspected what it would make me feel
like until I did it. It was a unexpected
result.
I would guess that for everyone who has suffered a loss, they find at
least one thing which is like chicken soup for the soul. It brings them comfort. It puts them in a peaceful state of mind. It can be healing and helps restore them. It gives them an instant where they
momentarily forget about what has been happening their lives and they are
briefly transported to a special place.
I remember years ago that a mother of severely handicapped daughter
took a few minutes a day all for herself.
Someone else would take a turn watching over this special child and the
mom would slip away to a quiet spot and drink a can of coke. It was her means of refreshment, a moment
away from the responsibility and pressure of caring for her child 24/7. Back then, I didn’t really understand why she
needed that time; but now I appreciate what see was accomplishing with those
few minutes away.
Whether you are a care giver or the person receiving the care, we all
need to get away at times and find refreshment.
When our lives have changed drastically, it can be overwhelming to have
to face that unfamiliar environment.
When our aging parents finally move out of the house that they lived in
for 40 years—that is a tremendous change to adapt to. A long-term illness or severe injury can
rearrange life for the entire family pushing them all into new roles and
uncomfortable situations. For some
people even what we think of as positive events like getting a promotion or
having a baby can temporarily overwhelm them and they may need a temporary escape
or a means to relax for just a few minutes each day. Mothers with small children, college students
taking a full load, and those who work in a busy, high-stress job probably have
a need for a daily escape as well.
Eating a little comfort food, reading a chapter from a book while sitting
in a familiar chair, watching a favorite TV show, playing the piano, or taking
a nap, can all be means of finding a moment of peace for ourselves.
In the military, they used to talk about taking “R & R”. It was time away from the battle to rest and
relax before returning to fight. I hope you find your special place and are
able to get away for a few minutes of R & R today. Be a blessing and help enable others around
you to take a few refreshing moments off as well.
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