It started when the sun was shining and I decided to take advantage of the sunny skies and mow both the front and back lawns in one day. I think the front yard is 5 miles of walking, according to my "steps" app.

Two days later when  I heard the word “rest,” I wrote it down.

I knew my emotions were weary, and that my body felt fatigue….

But the Seattle rains hadn't yet returned, and I live on this beautiful piece of land full of green grass and beds full of plants and flowers that need tending to. It’s spring! 

So a few hours later I went out to prune the bushes under the front windows. It was a sunny, warm day. I started on the back of the two healthy plants taking the wheelbarrow with me and putting the cuttings in it as I went. 

I looked critically at the bushes, lining up the edge of each plant with the edge of the sidewalk… not perfect, but pretty darn good in my humble opinion…

I dragged wheelbarrow around to the front and worked around the side. The sun was now beating down on me, but it wasn’t as hot as it had been last year when I did this on Mother's Day. 

Branch by branch I clipped along, pausing to eyeball each cut, making sure the cut edge would hide behind a new leaf. The wheel barrow was getting full, my body was warm and starting to feel the edge of my endurance.

In front of the bushes are large heavy stepping stones. As I moved along it became harder to push the tires of the wheelbarrow over them. I looked over and saw the flower bed a few feet away. The bushes there are taking over and will need to be pruned as well, but not today, I’m hot and my body has had enough. But that one sage bush had some dead branches… I could just cut those and then go dump the wheelbarrow and be done.

After placing those branches in the wheelbarrow I wrestled it around 180 degrees and pushed it toward the garage. It caught on one of the stepping stones and I felt it through every muscle in my body. After dumping the branches in the compost pile I put the wheelbarrow away and went inside where it was cool.

My arms and back were a little sore, but I didn’t think too much about it as I settled down with a book to read. 

The next morning I woke up and could barely move. My lower back was screaming at me. With each step and movement I was reminded that all my muscles were connected and my nerve endings were telling me to lay back down.

I made it to the coffee pot and then the freezer. I settled on the couch surrounded by pillows with ice on my back. I managed to do my laundry and heat leftovers for dinner, but otherwise ice was my best friend….

I’m a darn good nurse with a lot of knowledge, but I’m a lousy patient. I have things to do. My house doesn’t take care of itself- like laundry, cleaning out the refrigerator for trash day, running the dishwasher and emptying it….

Sure my daughter lives with me and I could ask her to do it, but she has arthritis and I’m not dying, my back just hurts with every step I take….

There is white dog hair in clumps all over the house and it is driving me crazy.

The lawn is getting long again and I don’t want to have to move the wheels back up when I mow next time.. 

I need to sit up and write my blog and I should get in my studio to work on my painting. 

But I have to tell you, my back isn’t happy after sitting up in this desk chair writing for this long. I need to get some ice and get back on the couch and REST.

I guess I didn’t listen to very well. 

I know the voice I hear is smarter than me and has my best interests in mind. 

And I know that I have trouble thinking about myself above the people I care about. 

So until I wake up and can move without burning pain in my lower back, I’ll be hanging out on the couch with ice. 

It really is okay to rest.

Take care of your body, mind, and spirit.

We are in a marathon, not a sprint.

We are fighting the long game for democracy.

If we can’t endure, fascism wins.

And that just isn’t a viable option.

Value yourself, your health, your gifts, and talents.

I’m going back to the couch now…..