I will apparently go to great lengths to avoid exercising on purpose. This Wednesday, July 7th, was to be a Target Practice gathering at Cooper Mountain. It has to be postponed, but I still encourage you to take some time and walk their trails. Although, the heat is on its way, too, so I may have had to postpone it anyway.
Yesterday, I hosted an Independence celebration. Not only for our country’s independence from England, but also as a send-off party for three of the five high school graduates on our street corner. The boys couldn’t make it, but the three girls and all their siblings (who also are all girls), enjoyed their transitioning from the kiddie table of life to the adult table.
As I scurried around making sure all my guests had food, beverages and an enjoyable visit, I:
- slammed my shin into a chair and the door of the dishwasher
- smashed my finger while closing a cupboard door
- hit my head on the deck when underneath while getting the folding chairs
- bit my lip while eating
And the pièce de résistance?
Nine of my piggy’s were being cooperative, but the big one on my right foot wasn’t paying attention and jammed itself into a deck stair. You should see the glorious colors it boasts today for its miscalculation.
You may be asking what my clumsiness has to do with lupus or Independence Day. Well, it certainly illustrates what a lack of mindfullness can lead to.
How many times have I been bewildered listening to my mom complain about stubbing her toe on the same table she did the day before? Over the years, I was unable to fathom why someone would keep doing that over and over again! She knew the table was there and had the broken toes to prove it. Yet, she continued. I am beginning to realize, now, that it isn’t about not knowing where the table is at all. It is about how our bodies and our brains tend to lose a sense of cooperation as we age. We know in our minds that the table is there, but the communication with our toes gets lost somewhere in the translation as life, medications, and aging catches up with us.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately about kinetics , aging and our brains and symptoms of health trouble. That’s mainly because I want to learn as much as I can to care best for my aging mother. However, as I continue to read and learn, I’m developing an understanding that all of what I’m preparing for applies to me, too. I’m not as young as I once was, but the increasing bouts of clumsiness are pointing to some of my life’s influences that I am letting get the best of me.
I know this is a Canadian senior-focused site , but it breaks down some of the more common reasons for clumsiness and you will see how much of this applies to us at any age, lupus involvement or physical condition. This article also gives us some pointers on what we can do to prevent it, which brings me back to that independence and the postponement for this Wednesday’s gathering.
Accidents happen and my day yesterday doesn’t necessarily mean that there is anything seriously wrong with me. However, I am beginning to notice some trouble in maintaining my mindfullness and focus during the day. When we are younger and/or not under the influence of stressors and meds, paying attention is so much easier. We don’t realize how much work it takes to be that way until we have days like I did yesterday. I do know that I won’t be able to support my mom’s (or my even own!) independence if I don’t start intentionally building some cognitive strength along with my physical strength. To get through our days safely, we really do need both to be on board.
So, once my toe heals, we will be having that Target Practice gathering…if for any reason, to better avoid days like my yesterday.
Hope you all are enjoying your weekend without any injuries, pain or discomfort~ take care!
