I think I’m okay now

I have this mental routine each morning. It goes a bit like this:

Right eye? …Check
Head pain? …Check
Neck pain? …Check
Right arm? …Check

It’s a survey of all the potential pain sites throughout my body, any one of which can slow me down or prevent me from achieving my goals for the day. Most days my goals are modest. But every once in awhile the goals are grand or immovable. Those are the days I must plow through despite the pain even though all my good sense tells me to take it easy.

This last weekend was full of these kinds of goals…more like requirements. I rested when I could, tried to keep within my known limits, and engaged in the best self-care efforts possible. Severe pain still dominated the weekend. Often the morning after such a weekend, I am full of pain or exhaustion and nothing gets accomplished. This morning was a pleasant surprise. As I did my “inventory” I noticed that very few alarms were going off. I’m not completely pain-free, but I realized that I felt well enough to tackle the day. The dishes would get done, the laundry washed, and I would likely be able to work this afternoon. What a pleasant surprise!

I think I’m okay now.