Healing and Patience
Photo by Carl Newton on Unsplash
The two are intertwined.
Since the end of the summer, I have been battling plantar fasciitis. It is a common problem and I know many of you have experienced it. I think it came on with all the time I spent on my feet in June and July when we moved. It was not too bad until mid September and since then I have been doing ALL the things I can think of to heal my feet, and have been actively seeking solutions that do not require a visit to the doctor. Like so many similar problems, this issue heals over time with rest, icing, foot massage and stretching (and of course the proper shoes), but boy is it slow going, and SO incremental - and that is what I want to discuss here - how hard, yet necessary it is to be patient when we are healing our physical bodies.
I am not going to chronicle my list of physical pain challenges because who really cares? Suffice it to say that over the last ten years I have had back pain that was chronic and extremely impactful (Are You Listening), along with other problems that have required physical therapy but were not as debilitating. However, a majority of my aches and pains healed over time with no outside interventions - just low tech solutions like particular exercises, stretching, rest and ice or heat.
Our bodies are amazing, and as we get older they do get worn down. They are tighter and our joints may give us trouble. Day to day, I have one spot in my low right back that always feels tight. Some days it really bothers me, other days it does not. Pain in my body, and my tendency towards it is one of the main reasons that I keep my eating and movement habits up - I literally feel better when I stick with what I know works for me.
I believe that in every sector of our lives, small changes add up, and this one is no different. When I am having a particular problem with pain I get on YouTube and find physical therapists who give explanations, advice, and exercises; I get a massage once a month to help with my tight back, hips, and glutes; I vary my exercise to move my body in different ways over the course of the week; I stretch, stretch, and stretch some more; I avoid sitting for more than a couple of hours at a time; I drink lots of water. More than anything, I pay a lot of attention to how I feel and what my body needs. I check in and see if I feel up for weight training, or high intensity interval training, or if my body needs a “recovery” workout like walking or yin yoga.
I would much rather not have to make all this effort because for sure, some days it feels like a real burden. But our bodies are a gift, and keeping them humming along as well as we can is part of the deal for a good quality of life. The alternative is far worse - aging too quickly, losing mobility, and feeling tight, stiff and old all the time.
When I think about it, it’s clear that our wise bodies are constantly edging us towards more patience. Patience comes into play in healing, losing weight, building strength or stamina, dealing with illness, and in keeping stress at bay.
You have one body - care for it with patience and gratitude, and treat it with the reverence it deserves.
