AdjustAdaptChange

There will be Adjustments:

Adapt & Change

You probably think this will be another post about the world situation today.

Not really - but then again...maybe!

I actually thought of this title while I was cleaning my tub.

The tub?  Yes, odd as it seems - the tub!

Let me give a little bit of back story!

You see, many don't know about my life from 

2009 to early 2014.

I was in a lot of pain - all the time!

It took us awhile to determine what was causing my extreme back pain and muscle spasms.

Early 2009, I ended up in the ER in so much pain that I could barely breathe 

nor get myself out of the car.

That was the beginning of learning 

how to adapt - to accept change.

Fast forward to October 2014 - 

lower lumbar fusion at 3/4 as well as 
decompression surgery.

I now sport a 'biscuit' between the 3/4 vertebrae 

and 4 titanium screws to hold it all in place.

Fancy stuff!

Bottom line - it was the absolute best thing that I ever did for my life - 

to be able to get back to life I should say.  

It's been great.

Along with this pain free life however

there came 

adjustments 

adaptations 

 change

I was no longer able to bend over as before.

I was no longer able to lift heavy objects,

rake, mow, hoe, shovel.

These all add pressure on the spine 

and especially on a portion that is non-movable.

Picture your closed fist;

The vertebrae above and below still move -

 the fist (3/4 area) does not

You have to be ever mindful of your actions now.

Now the reason I was thinking about all this while cleaning the tub.

Most people are going to be doing this:

I can't work this way anymore. 

I had to adjust - adapt - change.

I stand up and utilize my feet and scrub with a pad under my foot. 

Up the sides - across the bottom - and it works fabulously!  

We have the 1960's style iron tub, so it's pretty big and tall. 

Now, I use this illustration because of a thought.

What have you had to make adjustments to?

What have you had to adapt to?

What have you had to change?

You see - my back pain originally stopped me.

Many times I came to a complete halt for days!

Since that time though - I have learned how  

to 'cope'

with my new normal.

This involved learning to adjust

I learned new ways on how to adapt

I most definitely had to change!

Life is the same way if you think about it

Our current situation of staying home - 

keeping safe distances :

We have no choice but to make adjustments

We have no choice but to adapt - 

if we don't we are not going to have 

what needs to happen:

CHANGE!!

Stay positive - 

check on a loved one

Share some laughter together - 

'There's an app for that'

Don't stay in on beautiful days - 

get some sunshine

Read a good book - 

Listen to some music - 

LOUD if you have to!

Get off of Social Media for awhile -

Stop watching the 'fake' news -

Shut off of the 'static' of the world

Take a moment

And

MOST IMPORTANTLY

... just BREATHE