Playing a little right light/green light
Did y'all play Red Light/Green Light in Elementary Phys Ed? Kind of like a Simon Says sort of game, but with sprinting?
Anyway, that anxiety-inducing game of going as far and as fast as you possibly could without getting caught and always being ready for the red light to stop you was one of my favorites. (Are you surprised?)
And this year has felt a little like that. After my concussion in January, it felt like a big red light after all of the change that I'd rapidly gone through to move my office and establish new offerings. I tried starting again slowly, but my brain had been through a lot. Too much, in fact. Seven concussions is no joke and this last one has been the longest healing process (nearly 5 months in and definitely not fully healed), but I'm realizing that I never truly healed after those first 6.
The first week of *actual* cognitive rest that I did per Lori O'Neill's recommendation was probably the hardest omission challenge I've done. No gluten? Totally fine. No dairy? Easy peasy. No sugar? Piece of cake (so punny). No alcohol? No problem. But NO WORKOUT and NO THINKING? Hardest thing ever.
After that first week, it got a little easier, and I began feeling a little bit more clear-headed. The clear-headedness was the best part because it allowed me to see how my slow approach to healing had actually hindered me. I didn't need slow; I needed absolute rest. I needed healing.
Lori, in all of her genius wizardry, thinks that the bladder spasms that started about 5 years ago were neurologically-caused and likely from my 6 previous concussions. My second pregnancy was possibly just too much on a system that had never had a chance to fully recover. After that pregnancy was when I was diagnosed with autoimmunity. But healing autoimmunity didn't heal my bladder spasms. Now that my brain has had a chance to fully rest, these herbal infusions have finally been able to help me balance out after years of struggle.
So back to the red light/green light thing: all of that healing felt like a gradual return to a green light. I saw Lori Tuesday and she relayed that my brain was very happy from all of the healing and that I could likely begin some very intentional strength training with low intensity. The intensity part is hard for me, but I absorbed what she was saying and put it into the context of this week:
Dr. Smith has been on vacation (which I'm so happy about - heck yes, I want my employees to enjoy their lives!), so my schedule has been overbooked and I've been staying late every single day to accommodate that. I also had a home visit this week and have a few friends dealing with some heavy things that I'm holding space for. As such, I planned on not returning to working out until next week.
Good thing. I got a strong red light on Wednesday afternoon when another car and I merged into the same lane. I don't recommend it. Both boys were with me, so I'm grateful that we're all okay and that the other driver was as well. We both were able to drive away. I'm also grateful that I know some pretty fantastic chiropractors. I got adjusted by Lauren Scott that evening, then both boys and I went and got in the Plunge and I adjusted both boys. (None of us have had any aches or pains since the accident!)
Yesterday I was feeling a little exhausted from the day and the mental hangover of a very full week, and I got an email (*green light!*) inviting me to speak at another Parker Seminar this fall!
Every single person that I've mentioned the ups and downs of this week to has echoed back a different version of the same thing. But that's to be expected, right? We've just transitioned into a new season and if life and birth have taught me anything, it's that TRANSITIONS ARE HARD. Even when they're good (hello, summer! So glad you're here!), they're still challenging.
That's my red light/green light week. How's yours? I'm about to get on a plane to Dallas to teach this weekend (3rd weekend in a row - whew!), but before I bid you adieu, I want to share that today is the anniversary of the passing of the most recent cosmetic industry law. It's been 83 years without a single change to the laws that determine what is deemed safe for human use in the US.
If you want to encourage change, here's a pre-filled letter to lawmakers. I personally vote for transparency over regulation, but 83 years is a long time to wait for any changes in legislation regarding what we put on our bodies!
To a balance of the green and red in your life and a restful and joyful weekend,
xox
Lindsay