Tomorrow is my last day of rehab. Today it's 10 weeks since my heart attack. Not a day goes by where someone asks how I'm doing or feeling. Today I'm good. In the last 10 weeks I've had good and not so good moments.
What gives me a lot of hope is the progress I've made. Today I ran 2 miles. I even ran negative splits. I ran the first mile in 16:45 and the second mile in 16:32. Today's run was on a treadmill, but I am about to transition to more outdoor running. As we head into Fall, I'm glad to be heading out during my favorite time of year.
I've learned a lot about the people in my life these past 10 weeks. I've learned rises to the occasion to help someone in need. I've also learned about those who don't really know what to do. Those are the uncomfortable ones. It's easy to blame them for not stepping up, but in the end, not everyone has the ability to help. I'm not mad at them. I feel more sorry for them, because at some point, they will need some help, and may not understand why no one is helping.
I've learned I have to really dig deep and depend on myself to get through this. Now this is not a smack against all the people who help. It means, I am the only one who can make myself stronger and healthier.
One of the things I am proudest of is re-learning about food. I enjoy cooking. Healthy food doesn't mean it tastes bad. You have to learn how to make it tasty. My sister, Anne and I have exchanged meal ideas and photos of our meals. That's helped me quite a bit. I have also enjoyed reading the various recipes I want to try. Still looking for that magic low sodium pizza though.
So the last 10 weeks have been a learning curve, and I still have more learning to do. I know there will be bumps in the road....afterall that is life. Still I'll take the bumps, over not being here.
Charlie
2 comments:
During my cancer, I was surprised by some of the people who didn't "step up." I came to understand that a lot of them were too afraid to face my illness to make contact. Everybody has lost someone to heart disease, and sometimes the hurt is just too raw to face. But I was also surprised by a lot of the people who were willing to be there for me. I learned that there was more love around me than I ever imagined. You are loved, my courageous brother. Now, get those feet moving!
On the low sodium pizza, have looked at any 'vegan' recipes? My wife and I are vegans and she occasionally puts together a vegan pizza for dinner. I'm not sure where she gets the doe from nor do I know how much sodium it has in it, but the toppings are rice cheese, organic tomato sauce and whatever veggie topping you like. I do all any and all kinds of veggies outside of the norm, such as asparagus or even fresh raw fruit for a non refined sugar desert pizza. Yum.
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