If you read my earlier post, then you know that I’ve been busy doing the “marching band mom” thing for the past several months. But, that’s not all I’ve been doing. I accepted a contract back in June with a music store in a neighboring town to repair band instruments. This was in addition to my writing and natural health work. While it was fun, and I enjoy it immensely, I recently decided to let that project go. The MS got in the way. Multiple Sclerosis causes an overall reduction in energy levels, or at least my MS does. The store had a pretty high number of horns come in for repair most weeks. My average turn-around time was between 2 and 3 days for most jobs, but my personal energy levels didn’t allow me to give the job the hours it needed. The MS let me know in no uncertain terms that I was doing too much. There was even a day or two where walking was difficult, and I needed help with simple things, like opening jars.
It was a good reminder that even though I’m “recovered” I still have Multiple Sclerosis, and I need to always guard against doing too much, or slipping from my therapeutic eating plan too much. And, meeting the needs of my body absolutely has to be my first priority.
It seems like I need that reminder every so often, doesn’t it?
But, I suppose that’s not a bad thing. It means that I’m constantly challenging myself and finding new limits. My health is continuously improving to allow me to add more things into my world. I’m accomplishing more now than I was physically able to 20, 10 or even 5 years ago.
That’s the goal — To gain strength, challenge my limits, and live my best life.
So, I’m not upset that I left the music store. Now, I have the time to do those things that are most meaningful to me.
So? What do I have going on?
I’m still recovering from the music store, so I’m taking it kind of easy.
*I’m looking at an old book that I wrote, but never published. I’m considering turning it into an on-line class for Udemy.
*Planning a short class to teach you how to make my original mucus busting and cough stopping syrup.
*Arranging and performing music with my daughter. She and I, along with my husband are performing in A Christmas Carol with our local theater group.
*Helping a coaching client use holistic methods to work through some trauma challenges.
*Finishing up our homeschooling for the year. We typically take a long break during November and December, so we’re doing “end of the year” activities.
*Taking a hard look at what to keep, and what to change going into 2020. I start my goal planning at the end of November, which mean evaluating my projects, goals, and responsibilities, and the like during the last two weeks of October, and the first two weeks of November.
Comments
Cathy
It’s good to see a post from you. I don’t have MS, but I have a full plate similar in many ways to yours. I took on another client to write articles for in the spring. I have tried twice this year to resign from the agency for which I’ve written articles for almost 20 years. I hope to “retire” from this article writing for my clients by the end of the calendar year. I have to trim somewhere. There are important things that I’m neglecting because my plate is filled to overflowing. And I need time for the writing that is near and dear to my heart that has fallen to the back burner over and over and over. So I can really relate to this post.
ydavis
Cathy! I always love hearing from you. I miss my MW friends. I think it’s difficult for most people to manage doing it all. I always try to take on too much. Right now, I’m looking for ways to increase my posting here. I’m also putting together the first 10 episodes of a podcast on health, and thinking about developing classes for an on-line platform. But… our youngest is graduating high school in April or May. She’s 14 (yep.. another early graduating kid.. 3 of 4 have graduated early. My son is 17 and about half way done with his Bachelor in business.) Daughter is looking at a school about an hour away from home, so I might be doing a good bit of driving and working from the college library until she’s old enough to drive. We’ll see how this pans out. You have my email, I’d love to hear from you.. Yvette