A blog about living, playing, running one day at a time
A couple weeks ago, on Friday and Saturday we attended the US Women’s open as it was just 10 minutes from our house. The U.S. Women’s open is one of 15 golf tournaments put on by the USGA (United States Golf Association.) We live in …
Why is it so hard to sit down and write? I say I want to do it. And I really do mean that when I say it. But I often find myself doing everything else on my to-do list first. In some ways I think …
In the series finale of This Is Us, Jack is teaching Randall and Kevin to shave – such an adorable scene! In the background you can hear sister Kate yell “time for pin the tail on the donkey” and both boys groan. They are busy shaving.
“She gets it,” Jack says and continues, “When you’re young you’re always trying to be older and then when you get old you’re always trying to go back, be back, try and appreciate the moments.”
“Collecting these little moments” he says, “We don’t recognize them when we’re in them because, well, we’re too busy looking forward. But then we spend the rest of our lives looking back, trying to remember and get back inside them.”
This just absolutely resonated and hit home for me.
I’ve been reflecting back a lot lately. Maybe it’s because it’s been 20 years since graduating undergrad. Or I’m hitting that “mid-life crisis” period. I also started feeling like this was atypical but Jack helped confirm for me what was going on was absolutely normal.
I recently did a FaceBook live talking about how my therapist helped me realize how I make to-do lists and get tied up in checking things off, even with things that are self-care, like seeing my chiropractor or going for a walk. So much so that I don’t even realize they are self-care!
And these moments are our life!
I can think back to undergrad and I was so focused on achieving and getting to the next step, professional school. I didn’t fully experience and appreciate my undergrad and believe me I have many moments feeling regret about that.
And, I didn’t learn – just repeated the same thing in dental school – so focused on the next exam or clinic to pass and get out. (And sadly, I was too focused on a relationship that I missed out on many memories.)
How I now wish I had taken an art class in college, but I was just so focused on science courses, my major, checking the boxes to get As and my degree.
Even today, in practicing as a dentist I have found myself looking at the schedule wanting the next patient to hurry up and get here to get that procedure done and move to the next. Getting the day finished.
I will proudly say that is something, even before Jack’s poignant speech to his sons, that I have been working on while at work. Being more present, not looking so far ahead at the schedule and hurrying through the day. Being more relaxed, even at work, and letting the team do their job. They get me when needed versus me going back to see if they are ready.
It has definitely helped me be less anxious at work, but it does take a daily effort to practice.
I also really have started to recognize and appreciate those “little moments” so much more. For example when my parents visited, my favorite time was in the morning when we were just sitting around having our coffee, chit-chatting.
Or sitting out on our screened in porch in the morning reading a book. Looking over at the dogs napping in the sunshine as they just want to be near.
Those are the moments Jack was talking about. Those moments are what bring us joy and happiness.
The key is to realize that now, in the present moment. Not waiting till we are staring at death’s door looking back wishing we had been more present.
It’s not easy to do, I’ll admit, especially in today’s society, today’s environment, with our constant need to be busy, for distraction, doing something, our phones in hand 24/7.
But it is possible. By being purposeful, mindful with our time and decisions we can live in those present moments. It can be easy to let our day run us, but we must take control and run our days. Or, we will find ourselves feeling regret, and “spending the rest of our lives looking back, trying to remember and get back inside those moments,” as Jack so aptly said.
We like nice, neat packages. Yes or no questions. One line or one word answers. I’m all for keeping things simple, but in many cases ideas, concepts, or even in this case, occupations are way more complex and need more than a word. In a …
“You should be proud of yourself, beating these young chicks!” – my mom 😂 Last Friday, April 29th, I participated in the Rock n’ Run 5k in Southern Pines, NC, that was for raising funds and awareness for Friend to Friend. Friend to Friend is …
As I mentioned in my last blog post, https://liveplayrun.com/?p=708, I was quite sick for several weeks. I awoke the night of Monday, March 7th, a couple hours after going to sleep with great pain in my “right flank.” It was awful. I nearly had my husband take me to the ER but eventually I did make it back to sleep, went to work Tuesday and fortunately those good peeps I work with told me to leave early and get checked out.
To an urgent care I went and I was diagnosed with a kidney infection (after peeing in a cup 😂), given an antibiotic and supposed to be better in a few days. Whew…no surgery, appendicitis or anything like that.
Well by Friday I was not feeling better. My primary care said I should be improving so to go get seen at their walk-in clinic. Peed in a cup again, had blood drawn, and the suggestion was to change-up my antibiotic and all would be good.
Again, by Monday morning (March 14th), I was still feeling pretty badly so I called to get in for a CT scan, which is what they told me to do Friday if I was not better. I begged to get it that day as at first she offered like 2 weeks later! I was seen later that morning, my primary care called and nothing really showed up.
I saw my primary care that Wednesday (March 16th) and again peed in a cup, blood drawn and now was told maybe it’s a kidney stone. Fortunately my bloodwork looked good, but with how I was feeling I just wanted to have a diagnosis to treat! There was one slight thing that showed up on the CT so she referred me to a urologist.
Oh man! Let me tell you – stay on top of all of these folks! She gave me the name of the urology office for ME to call and “poke them” to get me in. Well ha – first they didn’t even have the referral so called my primary care back and got the referral sent. The urology office told me for days that they wouldn’t schedule me until after the doctor looked over the referral.
Again with how awful I felt and I expressed this to them, it was more than frustrating. So I suffered through another weekend and decided to find someone on my own. I called them but again couldn’t get in for over a week. But hey, at least they scheduled me!
It took some pushing on my part to get my primary care to get the referral and test results to them but they did, and I saw them Wednesday, March 30th. Peed in a cup – again! That day my urine had no blood or infection. I’ll give the NP credit as she felt bad not having much to tell me but that there wasn’t much to tell me!
It was within the next couple days thank goodness I was feeling much better. No one can answer why I had a kidney infection without any UTI symptoms (which is the norm) nor why it was like 3 weeks when these things usually resolve within days of antibiotics. Also, this is not anything I’ve ever dealt with before.
I suppose I will never know and am just so grateful to be feeling back to myself!!!
This few weeks stint of being sick has definitely strengthened my resolve to continue to become healthier, stronger, and leaner. Our healthcare system is a mess, and COVID-19 of course has exacerbated an already broken system. I don’t want to rely on anyone else for my health. It is up to me to take care of myself the best I can.
Unfortunately, that is the way it is. Our healthcare is not designed for optimal health but only to be there when you are really ill, and even then, it’s questionable.
And, I even see that in dentistry and it’s frustrating. It (medicine, dentistry, etc) is all set up to be profitable DOING something like surgeries, crown preparations, etc not in prevention and spending time educating.
For example, Sept 2021 I had gone to get a physical and establish a primary care doctor. I weighed in at 200lbs – the most ever and my cholesterol was 244 – the highest ever. All I got was a call from an assistant telling me my cholesterol was high and to work on my diet and exercise otherwise I’ll have to consider medication. I had told them I’m already an active person at my appointment.
Again, it’s up to me – thus I invested $4500 in a nutrition/accountability coach in December 2021. Best thing I’ve ever done as I now have lost 28 lbs and my cholesterol is 161 – the lowest it’s ever been! And, I’m still not done and working towards losing more weight and getting stronger.
It’s all so sad really. I know I’m fortunate I’m in a position with education and finances so that I’m able to do this sort of thing. Most people are not. Most are relying on our healthcare system, which from our country’s statistics is failing them.
The intention of this post is not to blast our healthcare system but encourage you to take control of your own health and maybe even inspire you to take control of your health.
Because really how many times can you pee in a cup? 😂
**edit: This blog was originally written Saturday, March 12th…there will be a follow-up soon as this is just getting posted due to being sick 3+ weeks! Fortunately I’m doing better now 😃** What a week it’s been! I just have to almost laugh when I …
I was thinking about this recently on a walk and wanted to share as perhaps you can relate. We so often want life to be smooth-sailing, easy and comfortable, but really difficult times are how we grow. If we compare our growth to a flower, …
Content as an adjective is defined as “in a state of peaceful happiness.” As a noun content is defined as a “state of satisfaction.”
I just got off an appointment with my therapist, who is amazing, btw. I’m so blessed I got connected with her! She has been with me on my life journey since March 2021 (when I was in a horribly toxic work place).
I told her I have recently been feeling unmotivated and like I’m not making progress.
Today she said this is the most calm and content she’s seen me.
This is a good thing people!
She said she knew this would be coming where I get to a good place where I am “just living” and being present, but feel like I’m not achieving, or even feeling boredom. Really I am content.
She also said that it feels weird to me as it’s almost like an addiction I’ve had to the adrenaline of constantly achieving for the last 24+ years.
Again, this is a good thing that I am content!
So why is being content often seen negatively?
It’s even defined as in a state of happiness.
If we say someone is content it’s often viewed as a negative thing. Like being content is dreadful and that we have no drive or care to progress.
We often may view contentment as a sort of depression. We aren’t on a high or low. We are just being. We have to be content at least some of time as being in a constant state of go-go-go leads to burnout!
Oh and I know by now we all have or are currently feeling burnout!
I am an over-achiever. I am someone who is goal-oriented. But for now I am going to enjoy this contentment.
I’m in a good place.
I want you to be in a good place too!
And no, unfortunately that doesn’t mean we will be in Bora Bora 😂 – but in a good place within yourself.
At peace.
Living in the present.
Happy.
The real beauty of that is that can be in Bora Bora or it can be ANYWHERE that you are!
“To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come.”
-Tony Gaskins
I am feeling uninspired this week. Anyone else? I also have been feeling tired and rundown from just trying to keep up with all the things. It’s hard finding that balance between working towards your goals and taking time for rest and fun. I often …