CHALLENGES

I've been thinking a lot about challenging myself, lately. Occasionally, I get the courage to do something new, different. The past couple of days I've been doing things that are a break to my normal routine or pattern, doing things that might not work out the way I like. 

I started out yesterday by scheduling an appointment to do my taxes. Tax time is a gut wrenching experience for me. I never understand how one year I can get a refund and the next have to pay in taxes. It's like spinning a wheel in Vegas. Some years I win and some years I lose. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the experience.

This year I got a refund. Whew. I survived the ordeal.

That gave me enough courage to move onto another challenge, a haircut. I wanted to go really short, experiment with several styles before my son, Adam's wedding. It was a little scary to watch the hair dresser chopping so close to my scalp, but I encouraged him to "Go short." I like my new cut because it is different. I won't get the same cut next time, but the experience turned out well and the cut is nice. I survived again.

Today I went to the YMCA for my work-out. I decided I needed a new challenge to my exercise routine. I wanted to try a vertical elliptical machine, as well as my horizontal one. Since I still have some stiffness and pain in my left leg, this is a challenge. The trainer suggested a machine (an arc elliptical) that I was able to mount and work on for a few minute. It was difficult, a challenge, but again, I survived.

I hope this will encourage you to challenge yourself and try new things. If you try, you'll accomplish more than you expect. 

FACING CHALLENGES

The past few months have been challenging. I've never been very athletic, but I've always been able to get around. At the moment, I'm recovering from an episode of sciatica. It's left me in pain that has affected both my sleep and ability to walk.

As I go through an average day at work or home, I think about where I'm walking and obstacles to reaching my destination. I worry about steps, curbs, long hallways at school, uneven playgrounds, and parking lots.

For the past week weather has not been good. That means that icy, wet, or slippery sidewalks have kept me inside. It's as if  I'm surrounded by literal stumbling blocks.

After two months I started to get discouraged and needed a change in attitude.

All those positive thinkers talk about looking at adversities and thinking about them as opportunities. I'm not too sure how to do this. I do try to regularly visit the YMCE and each time I increase my time exercising on the elliptical machine to encourage bending joints. I spend more time in the swimming pool, exercising my back and legs.

The ice storm threw another obstacle to my exercise program. Fortunately, I was able to find an exercises on-line to tide me over till TN gets a thaw.

I try not to think of the length of a hall or the height of stairs before I walk them. Instead, I wait till I have completed an errand (crossing the Walmart parking lot, getting my prescription, and returning to the car) and think about how well I accomplished the task. Staff at the schools where I work have noticed my improvements.

It is a slow process, but the obstacles are becoming less. I have moments that are setbacks, especially during the morning or in the late evening. Looking at the tasks I've completed as accomplishments helps me see the progress I'm making.

I am a person of faith. Faith, prayer, and gratitude helps during discouraging moments.

It's always important for us to recognize progress we have made. Be kind to yourself. Focus on progress you've made, too.

CHANGES--PART 2

About a year ago I posted that I felt that changes were coming to my life. Little did I know that the changes would be so very dramatic and would test me and my beliefs--to my core.

As I have shared previously, I have had a real roller coaster ride. I worked at a job that decided not to honor the contract to which we had both agreed; slashing pay, benefits, and requiring me to work extra hours for which I received no pay. There was no negotiation to this agreement. In fact, I was brought before the rest of the staff for a period of public humiliation when I expressed displeasure at the changes.

Those last few months I was made to feel as if I were on Survivor Island and that deception surrounded me. There were alliances surrounding me and I realized that as people struggled for leadership, no one could be trusted. This was unexpected in what was supposed to be a Christian environment. I hope the children were unaware of what was going on with the adults.


In the end I moved on. However, I found that I didn't qualify for unemployment benefits and my car died!

--But changes kept coming! That was fortunate.

I have a friend who knows a mechanic who is giving new life to my car. I now have a new job that I really enjoy. Life is good again and I am reminded of this scripture:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result . . . Genesis 50:20 English Standard Version

Now, if I could get this writing thing going, I would have a perfect life.

CHALLENGES

I have been very neglectful of things these past three weeks, or so. Life sometimes becomes full of stuff that has to be done.

For about a week I felt tethered to my home due to the flooding Mississippi River. I don't live on the river, but on one of the tributaries. When the Mississippi rose above the flood stage, tributaries began flowing backwards--a sight that will cause the heart to race! Compounding this was the fact that many of the tributaries were all ready flooded from the same storm system that brought tornadoes through Alabama.

Mine is an old '70s style home and a sump pump keeps rising water out of crawl spaces and out of the house. This pump has to be constantly monitored during emergencies like this.

A week later I was hit with a new emergency--the serious illness of a family member. I was spending much of my after work time sitting with an ill relative. That can be stressful. Did I do the right thing? What if?

Then there was the end-of-the-school-year chores and the transition involved.

These challenges have kept me from two things that I truly enjoy, 1)writing--including blogging, and 2) working out at the Wellness Center. My body and spirit are both showing the neglect.

--But our challenges make us who we are. The flood waters have receded and my family photos are back on the mantle over the fireplace. The relative I sat with appears to be stronger. My students are enjoying their summer vacation and I am working at a day camp. In fact, I am writing this during nap time. Yah!

Perhaps the challenges have subsided--for awhile.

Please feel free to share a challenge you have faced and what, if any, benefits resulted.