It’s Day 15 of my 100 Days on a Life Improvement Mission and I’ve already had an injury. (Applause? Boo and hiss? You decide.) Having been exuberant to the point of pain in my exercise for a couple of days, today I had to slow down and heed the mind-body connection stuff I peddle.
I went for a power walk two days ago, and climbing the hill caused my right knee some pain. (It’s been fragile since a car accident six years ago – although infinitely better than that first year following the crash.) I didn’t want to wimp out, so I ignored the pain and kept on going. Yesterday, I re-lived the same painful ascent. After the walk, I could no longer cross my legs – which is how I sit when I’m on my bed with my laptop. The ligaments or tendons are pulled too much in that position. I have to hang my leg off the bed. I also have to be very careful coming out of the car. It’s amazing how much force it takes to push off your right foot when getting out of the driver’s seat (in a North American car). I’ve got to act like royalty and swing both knees toward the open door, put my feet on the ground, then stand up.
Knees are tricky joints. I know this. They must be lovingly cared for. Lesson: I should have respected my knee’s objection the first instant of discomfort and turned around and walked back down the hill. Who am I trying to impress anyway? It’s not a competition; it’s a process. Buns of steel don’t develop in a week. So I skipped the walk today and did some very gentle stretches and calisthenics. I did not sweat, as per my mission of Day 2, but I was still active and I think I finally made the wiser choice for now, and for future progress.
I’ve been applying Reiki energy to my knee to diminish the pain and help it heal. I’ve also used wintergreen essential oil, which makes everyone ask “Do you have any more gum?” No, I don’t have gum. I have a bottle of Mother Nature’s pain-reliever. And a new mission: to listen to my body.
