From the Inside Out

They say patience is a virtue. I guess it’s a virtue I need to develop more because I have so little of it. My life is spent trying to be as efficient as possible so I can get more done in a day. It’s a matter of “hurry up and do more” and then more and more — as fast as you can. I have very little time to stop and wait for things to happen. I make things happen. I am impatient.

Maybe that’s one of the reasons why it’s so frustrating to watch the stroke recovery process with my Dad. Recovery is not fast. It’s not a simple fix, not something that will be over in a day, a week, or a month. It is long-term and painfully slow. It requires lots of patience.

I would do anything to change our current situation. Oh, how I wish things were different, but it can’t be reversed. That’s something I have to accept now — regardless of how difficult it is. The only thing I can do is look to the future and pray for a full recovery.

Each day I go to the hospital hoping for a small sign, some tiny indication of progress. Some days I get it; on other days, I don’t. I try not to be discouraged. Everything I read about recovery tells me that it takes time. The trusted team of therapists, doctors, and experts reinforce that fact. I’m not looking for a miracle (although one would be nice), but I wish the process was faster. I wish desperately that they could tell us when (and if) things will start working again. They can’t.

The brain must re-learn how to process speech. It has to figure out a new way to control now useless limbs that were once controlled by the area damaged by the stroke. It wasn’t a fast process the first time he learned language and other skills, so it makes sense that it would take a good amount of time now. It doesn’t mean I have to like it, though. I’m impatient. I want more.

Watching someone you love dearly go through a stroke is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Few things in life are worse. You can’t imagine the pain and the helplessness you feel as a caregiver. It’s frustrating. It’s emotional. And, once again, it requires an enormous amount of patience.

Maybe it’s one of the valuable lessons I’ll learn as I go through this process. When my Dad recovers, maybe he’ll open his eyes to find a more patient, more compassionate daughter at his side. It won’t be easy, but I’ll fight to have patience while he fights to regain his life. I know he can do it and so will I.

In the ’60s, Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote a song titled, “With a Little Help from My Friends.” A well-known song with easily recognizable lyrics, it appears in Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” Most people can immediately recite the words, “I get by with a little help from my friends. Gonna try with a little help from my friends.” They are simple words, but nonetheless true. It’s amazing how friends can help you “get by” in good times and bad times.

Even in the normal, mundane activities of our lives, friends enhance the experience. They laugh with you, listen to your stories, provide advice, and motivate you. I find it interesting that even the things you dread can become fun in the presence of a friend. My good friends know that one of the things I hate are baby showers. Those events try my patience, so I usually bring a companion to share the torture with me. Having someone there who is willing to discuss topics other than babies and the birthing experience somehow makes the event bearable.

Working out is another activity that is always goes better with friends. I met one of my best friends at the gym for a workout tonight, and it was great. The boredom of walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bike was replaced with laughter and conversation about interesting topics.

A 60-minute workout feels like forever when you are alone, but it passes in a heartbeat with a friend. People who exercise with a friend are more likely to stay motivated longer. After all, It’s harder to bail on a friend who is waiting for you at the gym. Friends also push you further, challenge your weaknesses, and boost your confidence.

Thank God for friends and the little bit of help they bring our way!

Everyone knows that being a couch potato and watching too much TV isn’t healthy, but now there’s proof of just how bad it is — and it’s worse than you thought. According to the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study, each hour of TV-viewing is associated with an 11 percent increased risk of death from any cause and a whopping 18 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease!

It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, male or female, skinny or overweight, the findings hold true. Those who watched TV for four hours or more per day had an 80 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared with those who watched less than two hours per day. And before you start thinking that the Television is evil, the same results apply to any sedentary activity. Four hours (or more) spent in front of a computer, playing video games, or even reading could be hazardous to your health. In fact, anyone who sits down for a long period of time may be at risk, the researchers say.

“What has happened is that a lot of the normal activities of daily living that involved standing up and moving the muscles in the body have been converted to sitting,” said David Dunstan, study author and researcher at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Victoria, Australia. “For many people, on a daily basis they simply shift from one chair to another - from the chair in the car to the chair in the office to the chair in front of the television.”

It’s not difficult to figure out why being a couch potato is unhealthy. You don’t burn many calories while sitting on the couch watching TV. Frequent exercise, even engaging in light activity, can reduce the risk of heart disease and help prevent premature death. Those who watch less TV tend to be more active. They aren’t necessarily fitness freaks, but they are moving about.

Now, this doesn’t mean you have to throw your TV in the trash and join a gym, but it should make you think about being more active. Get up. Go outside. Take the dog for a walk. Clean the house. Play with the kids. It’s good for your heart and could help you live a longer, healthier life.

I studied Martial Arts for a number of years, ultimately achieving the rank of first degree red belt (one belt below brown) in Taekwondo. It was something I truly enjoyed, but real life got in the way and eventually forced me to give it up. I always thought I would go back. I didn’t intend to stop forever, but the years stretched on, and life continued to put roadblocks in the way. Long hours at work, drama rehearsals, exhaustion, and stress all contributed to my inability to get back in the dojo.

With the new year, that’s all going to change. I am taking the opportunity to make some major adjustments. I’m striving for more balance in my life, reducing stress, and reluctantly letting go of some time-consuming tasks. I don’t want to walk away from my responsibilities, but I’m realizing that it’s necessary to lay down some things in order to focus on my true priorities. I want to follow God’s call and move into new areas of ministry, but I can’t do that when I’m so busy being busy. I also want to focus more on my overall health and well-being. That’s where Martial Arts comes into back into play. Martial Arts not only provides one of the best workouts, but it also teaches new skills, discipline, and defense techniques.

As I stepped into the dojo tonight, I was excited. Even though it’s not the same place where I once trained, it felt like a home-coming. It was so familiar, and I was amazed at how quickly my previous training emerged from the depths of my mind. My body still remembered the movements though it’s been more years than I’d like to admit since I have done them. Yes, it was a little odd stepping onto the mat and not having all of the knowledge I once held, but I was so happy to be back that it didn’t bother me. It felt great, and I left more energized than when I arrived. Isn’t funny how exercise can do that for you?

I know my enthusiasm may wane over time, especially as stress inevitably makes it’s way back into my life, but for now I’m counting this as a small victory in my battle for balance.

I found an interesting app for the iPhone that I decided to put to the test this year. It’s called “Couch to 5K” (or C25K), and it does exactly what it says. It prepares you to get off the couch and be ready to run a 5K in just 9 weeks.

The C25K plan instructs you to exercise 3 days per week for about 30-40 minutes per session(including a 5 minute warm-up and 5 minute cool down). During the workout, you alternate between walking and running, eventually building up enough strength and endurance to run for 30 minutes straight.

The iPhone application is really cool. It allows you to listen to your own music while working out at the gym (or running outside), and then it provides audio promts every time you need to switch from walking to running. That way, you don’t have to constantly watch the timers on the screen — so handy! It also tells you when you are halfway through the workout, so you can turn around if you’re running outside.

I started the workout tonight at the gym. The Week One exercises are pretty easy. For 20 minutes, you alternate between running for 60 seconds and walking for 90 seconds. Each week it will get harder, but I’m hoping to make it through the full 9 week program so I can run a 5K sometime in March.

Wish me luck!