Friday, 28 July 2023

Spiritual and Heart Health

 It’s been a few weeks since I posted.  Time has sure flown.  The one thing that has really been bothering me these last few months is sleep.  I can fall asleep fine but in the middle of the night I will then be up for hours.  They tell me that is a side effect of the steroids I’m still on but I know it’s more.  Although my physical strength continues to grow, I have neglected my spiritual side and it’s showing.  I’ve missed Tai Chi classes and I haven’t been meditating.  I never realized how much these impact me physically because when I’m tired, my body does not want to do things.  It becomes a viscous cycle and I do not want to depend on sleep meds.  That being said, although I recognize what I need to do, I still have not corrected it. It’s pretty bad that I did more meditation in the hospital than I do now. I just need to start my day off with some meditation so tomorrow morning that is what I will do (please join me if you wish).

On a different note, I had my stress test this week.  Although I wasn’t on the treadmill for too long, I did make it to the third speed and that was the fastest I’ve walked since my treatments and I didn’t trip or stumble!  My happiest moment was when they they told me everything looked good with that and with my echo.  My new abnormality is nothing to worry about.  My second was when they were surprised that my heart rate returned to normal so quickly.  At least that training is still working 😅.  Now I can start increasing my cardio exercise because honestly, I was a little afraid before I knew my results even though the cardiologist told me not to worry.

Both spiritual health and heart health are the silent but very important parts of training in Kung Fu. These areas are harder to log progression but not impossible.  I need to pay close attention to my body and know it will take weeks or longer for small improvements but it’s worth it!

Tuesday, 11 July 2023

Relationships

 We tend to gravitate to like minded people and these people will support you as you support them.  Over the years and with different life circumstances, you will expand and change these relationships.  With all relationships it takes effort and you get out what you put in.  This is part of engagement that Sifu Brinker always talks about.  

As Mike and I are busy with renos needed to list our house, I have realized I’ve neglected my relationships.  My Kung Fu, my cancer group, my friends who have been with me through all of this.  So when I am planning my day, I need to also plan quick checkins.  These relationships are not fragile that they will break with some neglect but leave it long enough and eventually everything will deteriorate. I want to maintain a healthy relationship instead of needing to repair it at a later date.

On a side note, I received my second set of baby immunizations today!  Slowly building that immunity!