“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”
-Jim Rohn
I have thought about this quote a lot recently, which means I probably need to write about it. Health – whether mental, physical, emotional, whatever– is pretty important, and if you don’t have health, then you really don’t have anything.
Think about it this way: when your car has a flat tire, you get it fixed. It’s the same with your body. Your lymphatics are a little wonky, so you gotta take care of that. As many of you know all too well, there’s unfortunately no “fix” for us lymphies, no pill or magic cure. However, there is much that we can do to keep it under control! And just like you’d be dumb to keep driving around with a flat tire, you’d be just as dumb to not take care of your chronic medical condition. So put on your garments, elevate your feet, avoid salt, etc etc, and do what you gotta do to keep that tire going.
Keep all that in mind as you go about your week and strive to take better care of yourself!
Have you been finding it easy to take care of yourself recently, or has it been difficult? Please share your stories in the comments section!
Wise words, Alexa. We all come to realize that sooner or later. I’ve been able to do some exciting things this summer. Did a backpack trip across Rocky Mountain National Park in mid-July for 3 days. Four deer were nibbling early grass at our campsite at 10,500 feet. We saw a marmot there who my friend said took a liking to me because one time that marmot waddled through camp and just about brushed up against my leg. We saw three beautiful elk wander through the woods across the stream from us just about dark – they were all in velvet. And on the day we climbed up across the snowfields and over the Divide we saw a Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep – with the massive curly horns. Quite the trip.
Then the next week I took off for a week-long business trip to Munich, Germany. Lucky me. I stayed in an old hotel downtown, traveled to the airport for work every day on the train. Saw Dachau concentration camp museum (not a cheery place). And on the last day we traveled to Salzburg to Mozart’s residence and enjoyed that town for the day.
And through it all I was able to maintain my lymphedema quite well. I did carry along some strong plastic boxes to slip under the feet of the bed to give me some elevation at night and help the legs after all day on my feet. Came home in pretty good shape.
So you are right, we have to manage our own condition and we can do just about anything we like. Of course, I did bring a prescription of strong antibiotic just in case I got a bug bite or infection.
Be good…good luck in Vermont – that’s such a great state. I went to college in Maine, so I’m familiar with New England.
Jim
Jim, you’re always doin’ something! Your active lifestyle is really inspiring – not to sound cheesy, but it’s true! It’s got me excited to do things like you. Being in Vermont, I’ve got tons of opportunities to hike and camp etc, but I’ve been so hesitant because of the lymphedema. Good to know that it’s possible :)