A Welcome Change
I feel great today. Hal and I went to an acupuncture specialist, and I got my sinuses treated. I felt immediate relief, and the pressure inside my head vanished. I haven't felt this alive and energetic in months. It seems like this summer has been extremely hard on my sinuses, the worst I can remember. I suppose it has to do with climate change and the pollution from all the wildfires that are still burning around the world. I have suffered from sinus problems for as long as I can remember. Both my parents had sinus issues as well, so some of it may be hereditary.
I chose the image because I feel like today is the start of a new journey to recovery. I spoke with a friend last night who was going through terrible trauma, and I tried my best to comfirt and advise her about getting a proifessional therapist, because my therpist has helped me so much. I am learning that feeling good isn't something we should hope for on rare occasions; it is something we can enjoy regularly if we change our outlook on life and how we choose to deal with it. I hope she finds someone to help her with her struggles because I recognize how bad things can get without help.
As I move through the day, I feel like getting into the kitchen to cook. I recently bought a lot of silicone collapsible food containers, and things are much more organized now. I was tired of never finding a container with a lid when I needed one. I had to go through a pile of loose lids and containers to find ones that fit together. I filled the refrigerator with food I cooked over the weekend, so there is no need to cook right away, but I am already planning my next kitchen adventure of pork loin and eggnoddles with cream of mushroom gravy. The main courses are almost gone, but plenty of side dishes are still in the refrigerator. I made the deliberate decision to make more food here at home this month because I am starting a plan to reduce my credit card debt over the next two years.
Thankfully, I have already purchased the cooking equipment that I need. Due to my vertigo, I don't trust myself to bend over an oven. The last thing I want is to face plant into a hot oven or onto a hot oven door. I have my trusty Instant Pot, Ninja Grill, air fryer, and steamer, so I am all set. Occasionally, I use the stove for food prep, but a wooden cover usually sits on the oven to provide more counter space. Most of the time, the cooking tools are over the cabinets, but Hal sometimes complains about the counter space used but never the food I cook. I finally have a kitchen setup the way I want, even though we are in an apartment. If we ever get a house, a kitchen that isn't open to the living room is one of the things that I will look for. The apartment has a kitchen entirely separate from the living room, and I like that arrangement.
When I got home from the acupuncture appointment, I sat down and started writing this story. I rarely feel the urgent need to write without a prepared outline, but that is another example of how different I feel this afternoon. My brain seems filled with the positive energy I so desperately crave, and I love this feeling. I don't want to be too elated, but I won't let this great feeling go to waste.
I want more activity this afternoon, but Hal is asleep as I am typing, and I don't want to wake him up. He does so much for me; I can't deny him the time to rest. There will be time later to find some activity we can do together. I have several ideas, but everything depends on when Hal wakes up. Speaking of rest, I need to get myself back onto a regular sleep routine rather than staying up until early in the morning. I am too old to do the all-nighters, even if they only consist of sitting at home. There is no reason at all for me to behave that way.
One idea that keeps popping into my head is to unpack and finally test my new drone. I got it earlier this year but was always too busy or tired to use it. I want to learn to fly the drone before the weather turns cold in the fall and winter months. I always wanted to fly a drone and take some videos, and there is no reason to put it off much longer. I would love to take the drone with us when we go hiking.
A second idea is to explore some hiking trails in the area. I can use the exercise, and it will give us something to do together. I am researching nearby trails, and perhaps we can try one this weekend. I'll talk to Hal about the idea later this evening. Apple maps show several trails nearby, so Hal and I can check them out this weekend if the weather cooperates.
A third improvement in my life is cleaning up the clutter in my bedroom. I need to file papers away and get them out of sight, and I need to throw away anything unnecessary. I am tired of endless clutter and that needs to change.
Eventually, my normal routine overtook me and I fell asleep for several hours before waking up and taking a shower. Tomorrow will be a new opportunity to make changes in my life.
Be kind to each other.