Sometimes you just aren't having the best week. At all. It feels like the mountain ahead of you in insurmountable. It's the Everest of your being, and you just know you'll die before you reach the summit. And it's exhausting.
When you feel like you're in that place, I implore you to find a friend and confidant (or a really fun person you trust) to employ for the moment. Ask them to help you find a new perspective on your day because you're just stuck in the biggest snow storm and can't seem to see 3 feet past your face. Let them remind you what makes you amazing and unique - the 30 second commercial that defines you, not your struggles. It's fun! I had one of my students offer up my 30 second commercial completely out of the blue, and it totally made my day. When I heard what the student said, I told him, "Can you just follow me around and narrate my day? When I need a PR person, I'm calling you!"
I challenge you to find your "guide through the storm" - someone to give you the quick run down of the greatness that sometimes gets overshadowed by the mountains you create. You may just find it makes you smile for a lot longer than a few moments, and that alone is a win.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The Pain Stop
No, this is not where you can choose your favorite style of pain. Rather, this is the Chinese massage therapy location I stopped by today to help alleviate the incredible pain in my lower back. Alas, I believe the pain initiated from a 2 hour Yoga class I took with a friend on Saturday, which was fantastic, but it did a number on me. Same happened when I tried Pilates when I was 18. I ended up half immobilized from lower back pain. One would think I would learn!
Instead, I suffered through 3 days of increasing back pain to finally make the decision I was going to pop over to this awesomely reviewed massage therapy center down the street from my house in Wicker Park. The Pain Stop. Rightfully named, it's intention is to bring the best of Eastern knowledge and massage therapy, including cupping, to the Western world. Or well, the western part of Chicago also known as Wicker Park. It's an unassuming place, cash only, located right off Milwaukee Ave. It's white walls and barren interior almost make you wonder if it's legitimate. I'm used to spas and heavenly sanctuaries where there are waterfalls, water pitchers, and fine seating for those entering the building. This was just ... there. You are there to correct pain. They are there to help. They don't feel the need to court you beforehand, and after my massage was over I didn't feel the need for it either. BECAUSE IT WAS AMAZING!!!
Lee was my therapist, and I asked he do a "medium" tissue massage. I was in so much pain I feared a "deep" tissue massage might break me. He threw on his 60 minute timer and went to work. Now, I've had loads of massages, and he was top-notch. And for $65 for an hour, there isn't even a hit for room for complaining. I would go back in a heartbeat! Within minutes I wanted water, and by the time I was done I could barely move. I was in more pain than when I arrived, to which I was assured some good solid stretching and water would make me right as rain my tomorrow. The lady behind the counter even suggested if I wanted to make it back to hot yoga that might not be a bad idea as I could sweat out the free-roaming toxins and do some stretching. Just, as she said, take it slow.
Again, for those of you who know good massage, you know that when you enter with severe pain, you'll leave with more, because that's what happens. They break up and move the pain around so that it can leave the body. They don't suck it out. They don't wave a wand and make it disappear, and they don't remove it by sugar coating and lightly rubbing your back. They work it out, and that is exactly what they did. Thank you, The Pain Stop, for being exactly what I needed. I cannot wait for tomorrow, nor for the next 64 ounces of water I still need to drink to rehydrate and detoxify those free radicals now roaming around my body. I promise, I will be back.
Instead, I suffered through 3 days of increasing back pain to finally make the decision I was going to pop over to this awesomely reviewed massage therapy center down the street from my house in Wicker Park. The Pain Stop. Rightfully named, it's intention is to bring the best of Eastern knowledge and massage therapy, including cupping, to the Western world. Or well, the western part of Chicago also known as Wicker Park. It's an unassuming place, cash only, located right off Milwaukee Ave. It's white walls and barren interior almost make you wonder if it's legitimate. I'm used to spas and heavenly sanctuaries where there are waterfalls, water pitchers, and fine seating for those entering the building. This was just ... there. You are there to correct pain. They are there to help. They don't feel the need to court you beforehand, and after my massage was over I didn't feel the need for it either. BECAUSE IT WAS AMAZING!!!
Lee was my therapist, and I asked he do a "medium" tissue massage. I was in so much pain I feared a "deep" tissue massage might break me. He threw on his 60 minute timer and went to work. Now, I've had loads of massages, and he was top-notch. And for $65 for an hour, there isn't even a hit for room for complaining. I would go back in a heartbeat! Within minutes I wanted water, and by the time I was done I could barely move. I was in more pain than when I arrived, to which I was assured some good solid stretching and water would make me right as rain my tomorrow. The lady behind the counter even suggested if I wanted to make it back to hot yoga that might not be a bad idea as I could sweat out the free-roaming toxins and do some stretching. Just, as she said, take it slow.
Again, for those of you who know good massage, you know that when you enter with severe pain, you'll leave with more, because that's what happens. They break up and move the pain around so that it can leave the body. They don't suck it out. They don't wave a wand and make it disappear, and they don't remove it by sugar coating and lightly rubbing your back. They work it out, and that is exactly what they did. Thank you, The Pain Stop, for being exactly what I needed. I cannot wait for tomorrow, nor for the next 64 ounces of water I still need to drink to rehydrate and detoxify those free radicals now roaming around my body. I promise, I will be back.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Catch Some Rays
Sometimes, the world just seems immensely overwhelming. You wake up and, literally, everything is wrong or massively insurmountable. The nature of everything swallows you up, and you end up only wanting to sit on the couch, curled in a blanket, hiding from the world behind a long series of TV shows.
That was today. Today, it was as if nothing was right, and everything was a massive ordeal. Luckily, it was also the first day of my vacation, so sitting under a blanket, hiding behind the TV didn't seem so terrible. After all, I had 6 more days to make everything else work, right?
Not according to my fiancé. He was on a mission to be sure we had things done. The list was long, but he kept wanting to check things off the list. This, I shall remind you, was the epitome of the opposite of what I wanted. It seemed like every time we accomplished something, I got grumpier because the list never seemed to get shorter. Then he decided we needed to run to the bank. What? Outside? Like I actually have to put on real people clothes and go somewhere??? **ugh**
So I schlepped on my clothes and begrudgingly left my house. I hit the outside wind, the sun on my face and the chilled air wrapping itself around me, and the result was instantaneous. I felt better, magically and entirely better. I was happier, I was more alive, and I was smiling. Smiling! All the insurmountable issues from the morning still existed, but they were less immense and terrifying. The sun was out, I felt alive, and I could tackle anything!
So the next time you feel like...well...butt. Throw on some clothes and go run an errand. OUTSIDE. No driving, or if you have to drive, park far away. Make sure to really take in the fresh air and allow it to revive you. You are, after all, a being meant to interact with the world, not just the four walls around you. So let that be your reminder. GET OUT! .... and then smile a little more. :-)
That was today. Today, it was as if nothing was right, and everything was a massive ordeal. Luckily, it was also the first day of my vacation, so sitting under a blanket, hiding behind the TV didn't seem so terrible. After all, I had 6 more days to make everything else work, right?
Not according to my fiancé. He was on a mission to be sure we had things done. The list was long, but he kept wanting to check things off the list. This, I shall remind you, was the epitome of the opposite of what I wanted. It seemed like every time we accomplished something, I got grumpier because the list never seemed to get shorter. Then he decided we needed to run to the bank. What? Outside? Like I actually have to put on real people clothes and go somewhere??? **ugh**
So I schlepped on my clothes and begrudgingly left my house. I hit the outside wind, the sun on my face and the chilled air wrapping itself around me, and the result was instantaneous. I felt better, magically and entirely better. I was happier, I was more alive, and I was smiling. Smiling! All the insurmountable issues from the morning still existed, but they were less immense and terrifying. The sun was out, I felt alive, and I could tackle anything!
So the next time you feel like...well...butt. Throw on some clothes and go run an errand. OUTSIDE. No driving, or if you have to drive, park far away. Make sure to really take in the fresh air and allow it to revive you. You are, after all, a being meant to interact with the world, not just the four walls around you. So let that be your reminder. GET OUT! .... and then smile a little more. :-)
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