Hello everyone. First, I would like to say I intended to write much more than I have over the last several months. I started out strong and then fizzled out a bit. I have not lost my passion for my journey or for inspiring others. I was struggling a bit with everything going on around me and staying busy with work during this pandemic. I am back now and hoping to have some new and refreshing articles with ideas to share.
The focus of my article today is celebrating the small victories. I’m sure many of you have known people in your personal lives impacted by the pandemic and other world events. Taking the time to focus on the things that are going well and celebrating gratitude will help us stay positive. I do know we must take time to reflect on world events and everything going on because it is a serious time in history. My article is not meant to take away from that seriousness, only to focus on the positive things or ways we can give back. I am writing today about my small victories.
Over the last few months I have been watching my garden grow. We picked beans from it already and spinach. My tomato plant has completely taken over the garden and is almost ready for harvesting. I used spinach from the garden this last week to make a potato and egg pancake and I used it in Lasagna. It turns out I found I’m the only one in my house that likes spinach. It has been so tasty though. I checked my cucumbers this morning and they are getting nice and big. For my first garden, I am very happy.
I had my follow up with my surgeon as I passed my one year surgiversary! I have maintained a weight loss of about 95 pounds total since March. No weight loss for me the last several months although I am thrilled to be maintaining. The one area I could use some improvement in is getting more exercise. Swimming was my main exercise because of my Charcot foot and I’ve had to stop because the pools are closed. My foot doctor though did say my foot is quite stable and cleared me to be on it a bit more. I’m still finding most of my steps get used at work and that’s okay too. The main victory from my surgery was my diabetes is under control and I feel strong and healthy.
Another small victory is my nightly small walk with Penny, my five pound Yorkie. She counts on and gets so excited when I say “walk”. As soon as we leave the patio door, she turns around and bites the leash to show her excitement. Walking her is a chore in itself because small dogs of her breed want to be in control and she decides the path we take. I usually put in my ear buds, listen to my book on tape or my music. I focus on taking deep breaths, listening and feeling the wind, and this helps me center and calm my thoughts and emotions. This has been a big plus in helping her sleep better which also helps me sleep better.
I had the idea to create a world travel game about three weeks ago and I finished it last weekend. It is very similar to other real estate games, but with our own twist. I will write more about it in my next article because I think it deserves more than a paragraph. It was a fun project that took our minds off of a lot and really helped us learn about other cultures and countries.
Over the last week we have been out as a family going to the Zoo and a small amusement park near us. We followed all of the guidelines like reserving tickets ahead of time, wearing masks, hand washing, social distancing, etc. It was nice though to be outdoors and get some exercise while enjoying everything. A black bear at the Zoo really made me laugh. He was picking up lettuce with his paw and throwing it in a box and then he swiped it up out of the box and threw it back on the ground. It was a cool morning so all of the animals were quite playful.
We have been fortunate to keep both of us working during this time so we’ve put aside the money we saved from not going anywhere and plan to have a vacation next summer. This small victory has given us something to hope for. I will say many of my co-workers and others I know have been doing lots of camping and hiking. This might be a great way to re-center, have some fun and relax, while getting some physical activity. My family tries hard to focus on world events when we need to put thought and energy into it and then also finding a space to stop focusing on it when we need to as well. We still have our struggles too although we find trying to stay positive and focus on gratitude has helped.
We live in a farming community and it’s harvest time so enjoying sitting out on my porch or looking at the fields on my small walks is such a blessing. This weekend I’m going to pull out my old cookbook to see if I can find some interesting recipes for harvest time. I know for sure I’m looking forward to apple crisp made with pink apples from my apple tree. I’m super lucky because my neighbor makes us apple pies when we give her apples. She will be the first one getting them this year!
It’s been hard not to see my family very often. When I do see them we sit outside and social distance. I’m beginning to dislike that word, but so far it has kept us safe. When I do get to see them I am grateful and we spend time just catching up. My family does live close so this is also a fortunate thing. Some of my co-workers though have told me they are using Zoom or similar apps to connect. One co-worker told me about a board game she and her family played on a Zoom call. That is very creative and what a way to make use of our technology.
At work, once a year we have a food drive and this is a great way to give back. We’ve also been donating money to a children’s network to feed children. I’ve read so many inspiring articles about people helping each other during this time.
Lastly, another small victory has been working remote one to two days a week. I am still needed at work because I’m a nurse manager, however working remote a few days a week has been really nice. I save money on gas, it saves the environment, traffic is better, and on those days I make a nice dinner in between meetings. It also helps me be connected to Sam, my fourteen year old son during the day. He still plays video games most of the day, but at least I can say hello. He and I carve out time each evening to watch one or two episodes of a show we pick out together. On weekends, we try and watch a family movie too.
I hope you will consider sharing some small victories in your life. Take care and wishing you all the best.
Mandy