Hubby has been sick all week, he picked up a bad bug and other than a headache I had for a day, I didn’t get it. My immune system must be working overtime!
My husband does not usually get sick. In our 27 years of marriage, I’ve seen him sick, maybe 10 times, if that. When he does though, it hits him hard. This week has been hard. It is only since yesterday that he started feeling better…We even tested him for COVID-19 and it was negative. Thankfully, we have both been very lucky in not catching that.
It isn’t the first time he got sick and I didn’t and I truly believe it has something to do with the self-care I do every day. I make it a point to take a couple of hours every day and do something for myself that helps me feel good. Mindfulness helps!
Whether it is a soak in the tub, sitting outside in the sunshine enjoying a coffee, reading an article that speaks to me, or even just writing a post. I do something that is just for me and it helps me focus on feeling good. The better I feel mentally, the better I feel physically.
I’m not sure I mentioned I threw out my right knee walking around Cape Spear a couple of weeks ago. As a result of having to rest the torn ligaments in my knee, I haven’t been able to walk much so I have been resting. It has been feeling better the past couple of days and I can bend it more than I could so that is an improvement. I did the same thing to the other knee a couple of years ago…
I am taking the time to get used to staying home, as it is coming. Every summer I am able to do less and less physical activity due to my physical issues. The Specialist told me a couple of months ago that my back issues were too bad for me to recover from the Knee Replacement I need, and my legs are too bad for me to recover from any back surgery to help me with the Stenosis. Physio won’t even help me he says…
So I am shafted and know that in time, I will lose my mobility. I don’t know what will give out first, my knees and hips, or my back, it is a wait-and-see game. Either way, I am as prepared as I can be, at least mentally. Until that day comes, I will do what I can. I have so many videos and pictures to look at when I can’t see the real thing!
I can say though that I will still get out and do anything I can do. Wheelchairs can get me out and about almost as good as my legs can and all the buses are accessible! Being in a wheelchair won’t stop me from exploring, it will just be different!
I feel a little sad too now that all my family is gone back home again. There is always a little letdown after a major event, like a Wedding, and I am feeling it this week. Going back to my regular routine has been difficult so I think it is time to switch it up again and do things a little differently. I don’t fear changes anymore, it spices up my life!
Being retired from working has given me freedom from pressures and I can plan my day however I see fit. I will tell you that being retired doesn’t make time slow down, I find my days go by too fast! I can never get everything done that I want to, but I don’t mind. I always have tomorrow! There is no rush to get anything done anymore.
I am slow anyway and always take my time. In all I do, I practice mindfulness and take in everything, including my thoughts. It has become second nature to me now…
I found a great article on Mindfulness on LinkedIn this morning that came in my email that I thought you might like and that I share below.
It was this practice more than any other that got me out of my head and the anxiety and fear that resided there in the past. I came to accept that my negative thoughts were not true, no one was going to attack me just because of the words of Toxic Tenants written Anonymously online in my name. If they did, I have options to protect myself. I have gotten back to myself and living my own life on my own terms.
They pretend to know me intimately, but you can tell by the scenarios they made up, they do not. No matter how many times they claim this is “classic behaviour for Stella Reddy” you know they are speculating, not voicing facts they can prove. They were just Tenants living in a building I also lived and worked in.
They have yet to prove any allegations they made against me in the past 7 years and that says a lot about their validity! While words can hurt, once they are shown to be lies, it makes them sting less, especially when they come from strangers to you. I am grateful.
Time to focus on me and my plans for today. It is a beautiful day outside so I am going to take my time getting ready to go out for a walk to the grocery store. As it is only a few minutes away and I don’t need much, it is a great day to walk!
A new week is coming and I am looking forward to it!
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to improve your mindfulness and emotional intelligence:
Start by paying attention to your thoughts and feelings.
When you are feeling an emotion, take a moment to notice what it is and where it is in your body. Try to label the emotion without judgment.
Don’t try to change your emotions.
The goal of mindfulness is not to change your emotions, but to simply observe them. This can be difficult at first, but with practice it will get easier.
Focus on the present moment.
When you are feeling overwhelmed, it can be helpful to focus on your breath or on your surroundings. This can help you to stay present and to let go of any worries about the past or the future.
Be kind to yourself.
If you find yourself judging your thoughts or feelings, simply acknowledge the judgment without judgment. Remember that everyone experiences emotions, and that there is no right or wrong way to feel.
Practice regularly.
The more you practice mindfulness, the better you will become at it. There are many different ways to practice mindfulness, so find a technique that works for you and stick with it.
The more you practice mindfulness, the better you will become at it.
Mindfulness is a powerful tool for improving emotional intelligence. By practicing mindfulness, you can become more aware of your emotions, manage them more effectively, and build stronger relationships.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mindfulness-secret-thriving-todays-world-abid-ismail
