Provide yourself Grace

Hi all,

It’s been a minute. My daily posting is more weekly now, but I may return to a daily schedule. Time will tell.

Me and my boyfriend moved across town this past weekend. I’ve been excited for the move. Closer to work, an outdoor patio for myself, my plants and my cat to enjoy. A kitchen island and pantry. The little things, but all very much good things, and they’ve brought me joy in the few short days in the new place.

The move also reinforced how strong and yet how frail this MS body of mine can be, however. Up and down 3 flights of stairs, taking boxes down from the old apartment, filling up mine and my mom’s cars with items stored at my parents’ house, and unloading vehicles into the new apartment. My boyfriend, his dad, and our friend managed the heavy lifting of furniture. And yet, the lesser weighted items still took their toll on me.

I had a headache Friday. That’s basically my normal, and I continued working through it. Sunday, though, after Friday and Saturday labor, a migraine came on, imitating the almost 2 year long migraine I had leading to my MS diagnosis. From the center of my forehead, through the left side of my head and radiating down my neck, shoulder, and left arm to the elbow. All my joints ached and were weak. It’s now Tuesday morning, and I am still so drained. The migraine has downgraded, but the hint of the flaire up remains.

I need to unpack and help get this place in order. James isn’t rushing me or judging me, but I’m doing so to myself all the same.

Today, after work, James and I plan to meet at the old apartment to pack up all the remaining items and clear out as much as possible. There are still a few pieces of furniture as well, but those will have to wait until someone with a truck and time to help is available again, hopefully this coming weekend. We have a couple weeks before the end of the old apartment lease, but would like to be able to start cleaning, turning in keys, etc.

So that means tomorrow I aim to finish organizing the closet, hanging and folding all the clothes, and putting together the cubby shelves that will live in the closet, and hold much of my miniature and art supplies. I may ask my mom to come over and assist with those goals.

We have chairs for the back patio arriving today and bookshelves arriving in a few days. I assume those will all need to be assembled. I actually enjoy assembling furniture, but it does wear me out, as does the standing and reaching and hanging of clothes. One step at a time, I suppose. All will be done and in its place in time.

Oh, and I still have items to collect from my parents’ house. A Thursday goal, I suppose? Mind or James’ vehicle can hold my desk/photo table, but the other furniture, like my dresser, will also have to wait for assistance from a friend and their vehicle.

I did purchase and put together these little mini kits last night, however. A nice little break from the stress.

And while at Walmart, I pointed out this flarp box to James, with my hand pictured on the front. A little fond memory of a temporary 2020 job.

I’ve begun to consider more intensely ways to monitor my body and how to tend to it so that I don’t have such intense crashes. I’m also reminding myself that it’s okay to take things slowly and provide myself grace.

I hope you’re each being kind to yourselves as well.

Til next time, Jen