Once again it is Small Success Thursday over at CatholicMom.com. Have you thought about some of your successes for the week? Share them with us here. Here are three of mine:
1. I got moving again. I spent months training for a 5K and ran my first back in September. A week later I found out that I have a pinched nerve in my neck. That explained why my neck and right arm hurt so much when I was running. My neurologist told me that I need to rest. So for the last 2 months I have been pretty sedentary. Earlier this week I saw a runner and I actually missed running. Me?! I have always loathed running. When I was in the Navy I would run 2 miles and then switch to the elliptical machine because 2 miles was the farthest I ever wanted to run.
My neck and arm still hurt, but I took my daughter out on the trail to walk. It felt good to be out in the November sunshine along the river. It gave me the motivation to want to get back on track with exercising, even if it is limited by my body. Michaela loved running along the trail. This time of year kids have to spend more time in doors. Taking her out on the Greenway lets her get rid of some of that energy she has stored up.
2. After tackling my Facebook addiction, I have decided that coffee is next. I really enjoy sugar with a side of coffee. I don’t particularly enjoy the taste of coffee, but I like sugary drinks like pumpkin spice lattes, peppermint mochas, mocha frappes, or white chocolate mochas. Not exactly great on the waistline, my energy levels, or anxiety. My doctor is still trying to normalize my estrogen levels (I have estrogen and progesterone deficiencies which explain my 3 miscarriages) so I still have periods of anxiety and depression (Prozac is not a quick fix solution, especially when body chemistry is as complicated as mine).
With my struggles, coffee is not good for me. I know this, but I still drink it. A lot of caffeine makes my heart beat faster and I get anxious. The other thing that I have noticed is that my energy levels plummet in the afternoon, a few hours after my cup of coffee. So, even though I really enjoy a hot mocha on an autumn day, it is time for me to start doing what is best for me, rather than doing whatever I want. It is a great spiritual lesson. God wants what is best for us and that is why we have to look at ourselves and decide if something is good for me as an individual. Lots of people drink coffee without the issues I have, but they are not me. God wants me to die to self, and that means sacrificing certain things. It is a part of detaching from the world.
3. Homeschooling has begun. Okay, not in an official capacity, she is only 2. I have started taking her out and working on counting, letters, and numbers, though. When we walk on the trail we count ducks, bicyclists, walkers, and look at the color of leaves. We also work on new words. My daughter is a parrot right now. She tries to say anything and everything, that also means we have to watch what we say and what she sees on TV. I also picked up some educational DVDs for her at the Library. She has finally developed an interest in reading and wants me to read the same story to her over and over again. It is called Pinkalicious. It has absolutely nothing important to say, but she loves it. I am more of a Dr. Seuss fan myself. I am just happy that she wants me to read to her now. I have that book memorized now. Want to make some pink cupcakes?
Swimming the Depths 
My kids love Pinkalicious too. I have one that is Pinkalicious Pie, a combination of Pinky Pie and of course, Pinkalicious. I hope you get to enjoy this time and her love of nonsense. It is a form of imagination and delight that the world needs, it breaks over the wounds of the world like music.
I am happy she is reading. It is great fun to read to her, even if it is not one of my own personal favorites. Seeing her interested in reading now makes me very happy. I am a great lover of reading. I probably just need to work on understanding her love of nonsense.
Bless your heart. I know back pain and that is not easy. Congrats on knocking out your Facebook demon. I am on it less (some days) but need to curb it for sure. Now coffee – I love. I will read back and hope you post how that goes.
Blessings,
Em
I hope you are able to straighten out your medical issues. I hear you on what happens when you drink too much coffee. I’m mostly decaffeinated for that reason. (And I hear you on the hormonal, anxiety and depression issues too–endometriosis in my history.)
Moving is always good. I hope you find a way to exercise that doesn’t aggravate your existing injury.