Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Hanging onto the Moments

We did our quasi daily stroll yesterday, just around the block, but a good-sized block, I guess you'd say.

It was nippy in the 7℃ (45F) weather, especially with a very stiff breeze blowing, but it was a good walk. As we neared the end, I actually felt almost exultant, for I was feeling less leg pain than I have in some time. Yes, there was pain, but no, it wasn't overbearing. Physio seems to be finally helping. Even my chronic foot, which is beyond help, was not at its worst on that day. Yay!

Dragging my leg along after me all summer has not been fun, but it was much less of a drag yesterday, and the diminution of pain buoyed my spirits.

It pleased me so much to be able to walk with less difficulty. I guess, for me it was Thanksgiving, just a day late. While I am not a candidate for the Appalachian Trail, it did feel good to walk more freely.

Maybe it was a one-off, and maybe the next walk will not go so well, but one grabs and hangs onto the moments that life offers.

I am thinking that it really is appreciating the little things that make a life a good life. I am mindful that even in the difficult phases of life, there may be brief moments when the sun chooses to shine and that those are the moments to hang on to.


15 comments:

Cloudia said...

Grateful to hear! "Actually felt almost exultant, for I was feeling less leg pain than I have in some time. Yes, there was pain, but no, it wasn't overbearing" love your choice of words too. Aloha best wishes

Boud said...

Yes, those little moments are treasure. I'm glad you had a bit of respite and it raised your spirits.

jabblog said...

It's the little things in life that can please us or trip us up. I'm glad your personal thanksgiving lifted your spirits.

DJan said...

The older I get the more I look for those moments of happiness springing up from the day. Glad your leg is at least a bit better.

Ed said...

My father, who will turn 73 shortly, just completed his second traverse of the Appalachian trail earlier this fall. He says he is done doing such things, but then he said that the first time 5 years ago, so I take it with a grain of salt.

gigi-hawaii said...

Yes, there is a silver lining to every dark cloud, isn't there?

Red said...

Keep working at it. Some of the treatments you're offered will be of benefit.

Jenny the Pirate said...

I'm so glad to hear that you had a nice pain-free walk! Before my hip surgeries I could barely walk across the room; anything much more than that was agony. But now I walk like I'm sixteen again and I have never in all these years failed to thank God for whomever it was who devised hip replacement surgery, haha! I am praying there are many more pain-free walks (and days) in store for you. xoxo

Granny Sue said...

What joy, to walk almost without pain! You are right, trying to be mindful of all the small, good things in our lives makes the rest more bearable.

NGS said...

What a lovely description of a lovely walk.

Margaret said...

A wonderful walk and philosophy, John. Those small moments are so important because they make up our lives.

Sandra said...

Hurrah for this! I am also taking on that philosophy.

Karen said...

On days when my knee and hip are being cooperative I get out there and walk the dog. It's a disappointment when it's a rotten weather day.

Barbara Rogers said...

What a wonderful experience you had, and I do hope it's repeated often! Glad to hear you recognized it's preciousness in all the scheme of things, and I am rooting for you to have many more painless walks like that!

Marcia said...

I too have had trouble/pain in walking but through hips. It's my massage therapist who identified the trouble and I'm headed for my third appointment shortly and will walk this time. The ortho PA and the acupuncturist did not work out. One wanted to put me on pain meds and the other wanted to raise one leg with an insert in my shoe.