One of those days

Yesterday was one of those days. I try not to call them good days and bad days because that implies positivity and negativity. So yesterday, I did my mindful stretching exercises as soon as I was up and dressed. I then drove to the Medical Centre. I want to go to school in the Summer holiday to move classroom and set up my new classroom. My employer says they need something in writing from the doctor saying I'm fit to do this even though I intend to sit on a chair and direct my helpers! The receptionist said I probably need a fit for work certificate and I need to see the GP. The first appointment she could offer me is for Monday 22nd July at 5pm. This means I will already have lost a day and school is only open until Friday 26th July. But it is open again Tuesday 27th August so I suppose I could go in then if I run out of time at the beginning. The thing is, I want to limit the time I spend there otherwise I will get too tired which sometimes means more pain.

I'll 'phone the Medical Centre and see if I can pick up a cancellation any earlier than the 22nd. I've an exciting opportunity to work on the new Maths Curriculum on Friday 26th July so I won't be available that day. So after I'd finished speaking to the receptionist I picked up my prescription from the chemist. I dropped everything on the floor in the chemist and I wasn't flustered or embarrassed so that is another achievement for me. I calmly picked up everything and slowly walked back to the car.

When I got home I did  a mindful full body scan and some mindful breathing. I relaxed in the chair in the sunshine. I spent most of the day resting or mindfully exercising and breathing. In the evening I accompanied my son to a presentation event where he was awarded Players' Player which we are both very proud of. It means his peers voted for him which is a great compliment and they said some really nice things about him and why they had voted for him. I drove there and back and then was really pleased to be in bed asleep.

I'm awake early but feel ok. Today I am travelling to Hastings with my sister on the trains. We are spending some quality time together. I'm sure we will talk and not stop talking for the whole weekend! And it should be sunny weather too - bonus! I won't write anymore this weekend because we are travelling very light and I'm not taking any means to blog. I might write some things on paper so I'll transfer that on Monday. I am taking my Springboard book so that we can compare notes and talk about some of the ideas and activities. So I'll be back on Monday with all the news from the weekend...
PS I've started writing an information sheet aimed at children to explain my syndrome, how it affects me and how they can help. I'll be working on that at the weekend too with the input from my sister. We will also compile a list of worse case scenarios for work ready for my meeting with my Head regarding a risk assessment of me at work.

More Positive

Ok. There's stuff going on with my employer and it has been upsetting me. I have sent an email outlining my concerns and I immediately felt a bit better. I have avoided checking my emails because that's what set me off again this morning. I sent a short email yesterday putting forward my suggestion and when there was no response when I checked this morning I got upset. So I'm not going to check my emails until tomorrow morning. Honestly if I received the email I sent (which was quite long and emotional) I would have to make some reply immediately even if it was just an acknowledgement.

Anyway, achievements for today: I took our dog for a 20 minute walk, on my own and as fast as I could walk. I knew my son would be home soon so if I got stuck I would be able to call him to help me, but I didn't need to. Also, I did my 25 minutes mindful stretching exercises and 25 minutes mindful body scan. That made me feel much better this morning.

I've decided that I need to be more determined. I would say I've always been a very determined person and do what I want as long as it's not hurting anyone. Somewhere, at some time, I've lost my determination and focus. I've become an ill person who listens to what everyone says, gets confused and then follows someone's advice. I end up doing things and wondering how on earth I got there. I've stopped doing things because other people have told me to. So, I've made a conscious decision to get it back. I refuse to be defined by CRPS. I need to be me who just happens to have CRPS. I really am learning to be me with special effects.

A Sunny Day!

Ok.. Woke up this morning aching all over and groggy. Shut my eyes again for half an hour then had a warm, bubbly bath followed by 25 minutes mindful stretching. I did all the stretches and just did some of them for less than 15 seconds. Feel better. Hung the washing on the line and ironed 8, yes 8, shirts! Woohoo!

Sat in the lovely sunny garden, did a full body scan just using my own focus...pleased with that as it may not always be convenient to have the downloaded file next to me when I need to do a bit more than mindful breathing. I think the file is too big for my phone so it's on my laptop. I also did mindful breathing. Hubby made me lunch, yummy!

I then started my Springboard book that my sister bought me for my birthday recently. She is part of a Springboard personal Development Course for Women. It is really helping her so she bought me the book so I could have a go at doing it myself. I haven't got the support of a group but I do have the support of my sister so I am feeling confident with it. I read chapter 1 and started chapter 2. It has really got me thinking about how I have approached work and education all these years. I have taken it all so personally instead of thinking of separate roles I need to play. Each role has its own power and responsibilities.
to be continued...brain fog alert!

I did 25 minutes mindful stretches to get myself going this morning. Also 2 lots of mindful breathing. I've watched Wimbledon - it started today. So close to finishing my reports, determined to finish them tomorrow. Walked round the block, had to stop once but made it back home. Had to take a few more Paracetamols today. Once I finish my reports I can really concentrate on making my new routine a real habit so that I don't have to think about it and it goes without saying. That's my target at the moment.

Not such a good Day

I think I overdone it yesterday - I woke up feeling awful. I did my mindful exercises and that helped. I've also done lots of mindful breathing today. I've nearly finished my reports. And the cricket is a bit of a washout!
Back tomorrow bright and cheery...