I turned 46 this last weekend. It’s interesting how life, like races, has its ups and downs. I have avoided social media for the most part, mostly because people talk about how amazing their lives are. While that’s great to share, many people are sharing their “Facebook life”. I always thought life would get easier as I got older, but that’s not always the case.
I purchased a certified, used Subaru Outback and it’s had repetitive electrical and mechanical issues since I bought it. I also purchased an extended warranty, but the issues were never fixed. I have been doing everything I can and just trusting things will turn out okay. While it is extremely stressful, I have taken each step in the process and can’t do more than that.
Then there is the pain in my back… I had a herniation of my disk removed from my lower back last October. There were some complications, and the surgery didn’t solve most of my back issues. I haven’t been able to do much physical exercise and sleeping though the night is a thing of the past. I have followed the steps and have an appointment with the spinal surgeon at the end of the month to discuss and schedule a surgery. I will most likely need to have 2 disks replaced, which should resolve the back issues. The disk replacement should have happened last year and while I could be upset about the lost time and back pain, I know there is a solution.
*image from Middle Back Pain | Scottsdale, AZ Orthopedic Spine Surgery (microspinemd.com)
I am grateful that as I age, I can have challenges
in my life and be okay. There are times where
I struggle just like everyone else. I
try to remember to put one foot in front of the other. It's just like when I was in a race and something went wrong, stop what I am doing and figure out what the next step is.
While life may not always be easy, relying on
family and friends, even to just talk about what’s going on is a lifesaver. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone if you’re
having a hard day. You might just be cheering
them up as well. I am always here if someone
needs an ear and usually if brightens my day to just know that I am helping a friend. Sometimes I don’t even have anything to say,
but that’s not what it's all about.
If we let fear run our lives, we will never
survive. Things that have happened in
the past have already happened, so spending energy on that isn’t worth our effort. Things that haven’t happened yet can hold us
back from amazing possibilities. Stay in
the present and look for the positive in everything…I double-dog-dare you.
Stop
thinking about tomorrow, the music is playing here right now. — Shi Heng Yi
