Following My Heart…Tentatively

My husband, Kelley, and my cousin enjoying the river, the lazy way.

I haven’t written for the past five days (in this blog at least). However, it’s been on my mind. Mostly because there are times that I am feeling defeated and times when I’m so very optimistic that it feels like I’m not telling a coherent story.

So, this 4th of July, Kelley (my husband) and I went to rustic camp at my cousin’s forested land on the Chippewa River in Shepard, MI. We set up what we lovingly call our “luxury tent”. Actually, Kelley did most of the setup. By the time we got to the river at 1:00pm, I was really tired out. The day before, I was whining about setting up our two-roomed, canvas tent. “It takes too long and it’s too heavy.” This is not my normal camping attitude, but I’m finding I want the light-weight easy setup tents. I’m game for roughing it but want to make it as easy as possible.

It really is a great tent, just heavy!

After a couple of great days (however sweltering) hanging out with my cousins, I could tell I was beginning to feel the effects of not stretching like normal, eating and drinking celebration fare, as well as the stifling heat (subdued by swims in the river and dinner at restaurants). After dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant in Mt. Pleasant, MI, I knew I had to go lay down. Our double high blow-up mattress was low on air, so I uncomfortably laid there for a couple of hours. The pain began to throb, louder and louder in my shoulders, arms, and neck. I began to feel nauseous. I dragged myself up (Kelley and the others were a good two city blocks away, near the river) to sit in the running car with the airconditioning, hoping that this would help. It didn’t. That’s when I resorted to texting Kelley, asking him to come back to help me.

He got me my go-to pain med: two Bayer Back and Body and water. I cried as he caressed my head and back, helping me to calm down. I worked on breathing, slowly in for 4 counts and out 4 counts. Kelley suggested that he drive me home and come back to get our things the next morning. That sounded like good option, but I just didn’t want to give in. I want to go backpacking for Christ’s sake! If I went back, I felt that I would be giving up on that. So, by calming down, the pain subsided a bit, and with the air mattress at back at full support, I went back to bed and slept all night. The next day was cooler, and I was back to my normal level of manageable pain.

Kelley got a $500 gift card to Amazon from Delta Airlinesdue to agreeing to changes in his recent work travel. So, I bought these itemsfor an upcoming backpack trip- to be named at a later time:)

So, Kel and I are planning a backpacking trip for next summer. However, we’re probably going to do it locally and for one night, possibly two, to see how it goes. I’m going to do what I love. I just may have to be a little tentative.

Do you have things that you love to do that are pushing your capabilities? Do you have goals that you’re striving for? Are you able to find ways to do the things you love with modifications? I’d love to hear ways you’re finding to live your life FULLY doing the things you love.

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