But before I go further, I just want to THANK everyone for responding to a few very personal posts that I recently did.......
Your responses to my post, A Lesson in Strength, Courage, Humility and Generosity , which was about my nephew's battle with cancer, really warmed my heart......
What Will You Do When You Retire?????
And for that I am very grateful because that verifies my decision to keep blogging!!
If you missed my post, A Milestone and Whether to Blog or Not , click HERE to read it!!
This post is also going to be one of those personal posts......
I felt I had lost my MOJO!!!!
Even though you have heard the word before, what exactly does MOJO mean???????
I searched on Google and this is what I found......
And another search asking "What is the Slang Meaning of MOJO?"
Came up with this......
"Mojo is defined as good luck, charm or skill that seems to come from something magical or supernatural"
Here is how I define MOJO.......
I define it as my creative sense, my natural ability to look at something and see it in a different way, my desire to be creative and feeling joyful when I am creative!!
To me, this is what I call my MOJO!!!!
Now before you start to think it was Seasonal Affective Disorder, SAD, caused by the overly long Winter.......
I actually LOVE Winter and the long dark days because I get to light up my home with mood lighting and mini lights from decorations for the various Holidays and Seasons .....
So I knew that wasn't it......
I realized it was a Mobility issue........
What?????
Mobility?????
For the last 5 years, I have put off Knee Replacement Surgery.........
I HOPE to put it off another year and a half but my right knee is bone on bone......
I do get cortisone shots every 4 months........
BUT they are not lasting as long and when the shot wears off the pain is increasing and feels like my bones are rubbing against each other in that right knee joint when I walk and that is because they are......
Joint Pain
Limited Mobility
Lack of Physical Activity
Obesity
Depression
Yes, I think I was in a state of depression because of the amount of pain that I was experiencing when I would try to walk......
When I first found out that I was in need of a knee replacement, I went to my boss to tell her that surgery was in my future.......
This is how she responded.......
"I will post your job in 3 months if you are not back to work"
I will not comment any further on this because "Big Brother" may be watching.......
Under the Federal Medical Leave Act, you are guaranteed your current position for 3 months......
My orthopedic surgeon has told me that I would be off a minimum of 3 months because as a staff RN in a hospital, I am constantly on my feet....
Now I have worked in my department on night shift for 35 years and at this stage in my life, I am NOT going to another department or another shift!
So this is why I have held off the surgery and I hope to retire right after having the surgery so I would not have to worry about returning to work......
Okay, now that that is cleared up........
For the past 2 months after my last cortisone shot wore of, I was suffering with Chronic Pain......
Because I decorate for every Holiday and Season, I was constantly decorating and undecorating parts of my home and normally, this would bring me much enjoyment and satisfaction.......
But when my cortisone shot wore off, another event also happened.......
Joe fell on the ice and fractured a rib and his wrist.......
This meant that he was not able to assist me with hauling tubs and boxes up and down from the attic.....
Now I did manage to do this all by myself but it was a bit daunting because of the pain in my right knee......
I did manage though to do everything that I usually do in my house for the Holidays and Seasons......
I know that I frequently set a very high bar for myself......
But I also started to isolate myself, only going to work and nowhere else because it was painful to walk any distance.....
I realized that because of this, I was falling into a state of Depression....
I am now pain free again!!!
I also spoke to my Orthopedic Surgeon about the shots not lasting as long as they did previously and he told me what he has told me for the past 5 years.......
I loved that he said he " will be my surgeon some day when I am ready but for right now, I am your Coach"
He again explained the need for me to strengthen my muscles in my right leg to help with the pain and prepare for my future surgery........
And for the need to lose more weight!!!
These were the first things that he told me 5 years ago.........
He advocates using a stationary bike to strengthen the muscles around the knee joint......
When he first told me this, I bought this baby the next day.......
Initially, I lost 50 pounds........
But then I went part time and gained 20 pounds back....
I still need to loose close to those 20 pounds and more.........
I will be quite honest and Yes, I have made a lot of excuses to not get on that bike!!
But now I realize the serious need for me to get on that bike and pedal away!!
So now that I am currently pain free, I realized that I need to take serious measures to remain that way....
Not only for my physical health but also for my mental health!!!!
I have been pedaling every day on my bike and I have been watching what I eat.......
And these are a few things that I have noticed that have changed........
I have more energy and feel like doing more things
After working night shift for 35 years ad only sleeping 3-4 hours at a clip, staying asleep for long periods of time has always been a problem for me......
I do have IBS and Hashimotto's Thyroiditis and have chronic G I issues......
Exercise is known to help alleviate Stress.......
Exercise is also known for improving many other things.....
2. Stronger muscles
3. Better flexibility
4. Improved posture
5. Improved heart and lung systems
6. Better appetite
7. Feeling more relaxed
8. Better social life
9. Improved quality of life
10. Reduced risk of disease and ill- health
I am now determined to not lose my MOJO again........
I am feeling much better and I am now back to "playing" in my house and garden........
Ideas for projects and crafts are free flowing through my mind again........
I found my MOJO again........
And I seriously believe it is through exercise and healthy eating habits and trying to remain pain free.....
Even one that has no history of any mental health issues.......
And I hope it may help others realize the importance of a daily exercise regime no matter what it is.......
Thanks for taking the time to read this post......
I hope you will be back to visit again soon.......
And thanks to those who took the time out of their busy day to spend a little bit of time with me!!
If you do not have a blog, PLEASE give me some way to reply to your comment, maybe by including your email in your comment. If I can not find a way to reach you, I will reply on the post where you commented so please check back......
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