July 15

PATIENCE MONTH: DAY 15: “Be patient with your pain. Take the time you need. There is no rush. Be patient and loving with yourself. You deserve your own kindness.” ― Akiroq Brost

It is always so surprising to me that I find these quotes a week or so before the month in which I am going to use them. Then, 4 or 5 weeks later, they become completely pertinent to the situations in which I am writing.

I have been moving. I have moved a total of 76 homes before the one I am going to occupy next. I have never experienced such tremendous physical limitation in these previous moves. I was able to do all the packing and shifting of furniture and digging up of gardens on my own prior to this move.

THIS ONE is a new story. I cannot walk very well, much less do what I want to do now. I am not working well with this limitation. I push until I am in horrible pain, then I have to lay on the floor and do some stretching to work out the pain. However, it is not going away.

So, I have to be patient with my pain. When I first read this quote, I was NOT thinking about physical pain, because it was not a part of my life to the extent it is now. Hahaha…never discount that! Anyway, I was really thinking more about emotional pain and the pain that forces us to do the work we do to recover. But this morning, I read this and started laughing. I have been calling people to ask for help with moving and packing…dammit! I hate asking for help.

So, here we are. Practicing the kind of patience I am not good at. Sitting still more and moving less. Ugh! Who the hell came up with this plan? Oh yeah…never mind.

I have to be kind to myself. It is the right way to be. I must be in acceptance and move more mindfully into this new home and new life. And there IS no rush…except in my crazy brain. It all goes so well when I am able to ask for and then receive help. What a gift!