Set Back and Resigned

With a personality tinged with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and a penchant for perfectionism, it is very difficult for me to overcome the drive for orderliness and job completion and not sacrifice the physical body and it's need for healing. I have been fighting this battle for three months now.

And so it was that I over-extended myself last Wednesday as I helped Tom make use of the one day we had to get the Whidbey garden in shape. The result was a scritchy back (my word for describing the little stings and stabs of irritated muscle strands and nerve endings) that has been very sensitive to unwanted motion and very sore, stiff legs that were not used to the ups and downs and crawling around that comes with gardening. 

I have been trying to walk through it and continue my physical therapy exercises.  The exercises are fine, but I have had to cut back on my walking, going shorter distances. Of course I have not exactly been sedentary here at home either, what with the great weather this week and lots of gardening chores that need to get done. And now, again, just tying my shoes can be painful.

But I have finally sort of scared myself into a more sensible course of action. I did my exercises and took a 2.5 mile walk this morning, went shopping for plants, struck out on finding my impatiens, picked up some groceries, and then spent my lunch hour here on the patio.

As you can see it was a beautiful day.  In fact it was heading to 80°.
I worked carefully in the yard for an hour, doing mostly standing jobs, and then I relegated myself to the rocking chair.

By 4:00 Tom joined me.  We have a rule here - no working when it hits 80, and Tom was overdue for his rocker time too. I spent two lovely hours in the shade, finally taking time to read the book I have been trying to get through for a long time now.

The seedling plants need to be planted in the vegetable garden.  The raggedy edges of the lawn are bugging me and need to be re-cut. There is plant staking to do and general grooming and yard art to be set out.

But I will be back on the patio and in my rocker again tomorrow, hopefully using common sense to overcome my OCD.  Josy will most likely join me again too.

And for all of you experiencing frightening weather east of here, and fires to the south, I send my concern and good wishes for your safety and comfort.  Who knew Seattle would be weather paradise this week!