Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Stuck


I am, literally and figuratively, stuck. Snow falls every other day and then freezing temperatures dominate the forecast, leaving a sheet of ice. And ice doesn’t work so well with a wheelchair. So, I am stuck. This stuck feeling is what precipitated my unintended break from writing over the holiday season. After Thanksgiving, a snow storm pounded my area and forced a season of feeling emotionally and intellectually paralyzed. And this mental strain, in combination with my physical paralysis, fed my frustration and allowed it to take over my life. I did have a wonderful holiday, consumed with party planning and all things holiday. However, I also felt a void. I don’t seem to function very well outside of my routine and ritual.

The ritual I miss most, when I am stuck, is my river walks with Belle. This ritual clears my head and opens my heart. Without this experience, I feel lost and out of sorts. I tend to have mini breakdowns and lose myself quite a bit. In addition to these walks, I do exercise at home. But, there is something about the path, the river, and the quietness of the park that bring me peace. 

Yesterday, the snow melted for five minutes. I packed up Belle and headed out for a walk. Bliss. I felt renewed. My heart overflowed with gratitude. But, then, here I am today inside and wondering if I will ever get outside again. Instead of allowing this trapped feeling to dominate the day I chose to get over it and move forward despite my cloudy head. I decided this stuck feeling is only a feeling and I need to choose a new feeling. A feeling that makes me less stuck and more motivated. And I did it with just starting the day with a better attitude. An attitude that is grateful for this time inside. An attitude that is grateful for the time to accomplish things on my list that seem to always reappear or are pushed to another list for another time. I chose to be grateful for the pause, instead of pining for the play button.

I am currently working on a story to share with you. A story that tells of this past Friday night's adventure. A night I will always remember with great laughter and overwhelming love. I can’t wait to finish it and share it with you. I also fill my days with this house renovation project. The details are buttoning up quickly and I should begin a photo report soon. Please keep up the positive energy. This time inside forces completion of a lot of unfinished details and projects. It also encourages more time in my bed which only aids in my healing process. So I need to learn to be grateful for this time as much as I loathe it. I inch closer and closer to my dreams of a healthy, as it can be, body and a house suited to my needs. I need to learn not to get so frustrated when I hit a bump or stall out for a bit. Every day, I learn something new. Every, single day.

Be back shortly and hope you are very well. If you are cold, please stay warm and if you are warm, please remember to be grateful for the sun. And if you are stuck, be grateful for the pause. It is difficult to hit this button sometimes. Believe me, I know.



And this is what a stuck dog does all day long...after she is ornery, of course. I wish I could find her inner peace.

7 comments:

  1. Beautifully said! Thanks for your wisdom. You are an inspiration.

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  2. Sending you love and light and a little more grit so that you may get unstuck.

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  3. What a darling little Belle, all curled up in her warmth! Stuck is temporary, thank goodness. I agree, it is a time to rest and read and get to all of those "someday" tasks.
    Love you, Sarah and Belle!

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  4. Isn't life funny? The very thing you loathe is what I think I need right now. Instead I am skidding on ice in minus degree temperatures trying to get to work. Though I suspect if I were stuck at home I'd feel the same as you. So you made me see some goodness in my difficult days. Thank you! Hope you are able to get out soon!

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  5. Isn't life funny? The very thing you loathe is what I think I need right now. Instead I am skidding on ice in minus degree temperatures trying to get to work. Though I suspect if I were stuck at home I'd feel the same as you. So you made me see some goodness in my difficult days. Thank you! Hope you are able to get out soon!

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  6. Congratulations....I voted for your blog at "A Knotted Life" for the Sheenazing Awards. I hope the best for you always. Thanks for sharing your days with me. It helps me with my own life issues.

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  7. Thanks for writing so honestly and from the heart. And for the record, you are not alone in feeling stuck at this cold, snowy time of year. While not in a wheelchair I, too, am feeling stuck right now. And, this harsh winter isn't helping the cause! The days, while short on daylight, can feel so long and quiet sometimes. Just today, with the snow coming down in droves again, I decided to enjoy the downtime; read, do a couple small projects with photos, etc., all with the knowledge that this, too, shall pass! Stay warm and safe. Spring will be here soon...we can only hope!

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Thank you for commenting. I appreciate all of your words.