Monday Morning

Good Morning beautiful people!

I'm on my 5th day of recovery and feeling great. Saturday proved to be a turning point for me having been fed up with several days of immobility. I cured my cabin fever and went out with my wonderful Dad for a couple hours. He's great. Yesterday, I used my crutches to get out of bed but other than that I was walking on my own. It was a great feeling. Last night my great friend Lindsey took me out for a date. We went to Wegman's for sushi and then the movies to see Taken 2. I am still too weak to take on an excursion like this crutch-less. In fact, I took advantage of the scooter carts at Wegman's, something I've always wanted to do. Those things are powerful and FUN!

For anyone considering seeing Taken 2 I would like to give it a movie review for you:
First, I'd advise you to watch the first Taken a few days before you see the second one just to remind yourself of how amazing it is plus, they make a lot of references to the first one in the second one so it will make more sense if you refresh your memory. I would give Taken 2 4 out 5 stars. The action scenes were awesome and the suspense was the best part. However, the story line was good but a bit sappy if I might say so myself. All in all, it was still a great movie and I would recommend going to see it.

Anyway, I've got today and tomorrow to rest up and re cooperate until I go back to my apartment at school and then start up class again on Wednesday. On Friday I have my follow-up appointment with my surgeon and I will find out when I can start physical therapy and see what happens from there! As of now I'm in good spirits and making the best of my recovery process.

peace, love and healthfulness
~mrlb

Don't be afraid to get lil wet :)

No smooth sea.

Would you believe me if I told you I worked up a sweat by hobbling around my kitchen for 20 minutes?
At least the time of day goes by quickly because it takes me forever to do one simple task.
I'm sick of staring at the TV screen, the computer screen, my iPhone screen.
Am I going crazy?.. I hope not.
Today has been really tough. I'm getting cabin fever sitting up in this house, especially because it was such a beautiful day outside. I did hang out on the deck for a few moments, that was nice.
Luckily I've been up and moving which is a good thing but the pain that comes with it sucks! I don't want to take my pain meds any more because they have the worst side effects and make me feel no pain in my knee/leg, but just give me a woozy feeling.
The whole process takes a lot more energy than I thought. I mean obviously its physically enduring but just trying to stay strong mentally and emotionally is a task on its own. Luckily I have some awesome people that have helped me get through the day :)
So what I've learned today is that I never want to take, doing a simple task effortlessly, for granted. And also, just my health in general. Sometimes we abuse our bodies without even realizing it just because we've adapted to that sort of abuse which is pretty messed up if you think about it. Be nice to your body or it will take you down, as I have learned.
Positive vibes, positive vibes...
~mrlb

a road to recovery, health & happiness.

At one time, not so long ago, this was my travel blog, where I expressed all my worldly adventures and experiences of my summer abroad. Upon my arrival back to the States, I thought about what exactly I wanted to do with this blog. I knew I did not want to discontinue it, as I have had much fun sharing my experiences and expressing myself through this medium. I figured though I would be back home, I would still be going on some fascinating adventures, just domestically. I knew these would not be as exciting as my previous excursions through the west coast, on down under to Australia and in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in Fiji but like I said, I really enjoy blogging!

Unfortunately, my aspirations of continuing a local travel blog came to a crashing halt when I was injured at the end of August. The thing I looked forward to most about coming home was getting myself back in shape and back in the game of Ultimate Frisbee. Despite having such an incredible experience overseas, there were a few burdens I carried back to the states with me. Number one, was the large hole I burned in my pocket while abroad. I certainly made sure that I lived it up and didn't hold back while I was gone... Not one single penny! Oh wait, they don't have pennies in Australia, okay okay, not one single dollar (even worse)! I don't regret this part of my experience, however, I do wish I had approached my financial situation in a different manner.

The second burden I brought back with me was several unwanted kilos. There are endless excuses I could make to justify my poor health decisions but like I said, I wasn't going to hold back and I do not regret it. Having realized this, of course I jumped right back into action the moment I was over my jet-lag. Sadly I took a leap that my brain was ready for but my body wasn't. Literally.

In my very first game of casual ultimate frisbee with my friends back in the US, I tore my ACL. Initially  I was devastated.  How could the only thing I wanted since coming home be ripped away from me like this? How would I ever get back in shape? How would I ever get back to regular body size? How will I ever be involved in my last year of Ultimate Frisbee at MY COLLEGE?!

Let me remind you that this was over 6 weeks ago, and I have since come to a much more positive outlook on my situation. No longer will this be the travel blog that it started as. I am now changing it to my stationary blog. Because being stationary, is not a bad thing. Had my injury not taken place, I would never of had a chance to reflect on my transition back to the United States. I would never have been given an opportunity to look at the life I have been living through out my college years and realize what I don't like about it and how I want to change it. Yes there are things that I will now have to miss out on, such as playing the sport that I love with the team that I love. But that doesn't mean I can't be involved. In fact, I am now holding an off-field leadership position. I am investing all of my energy into my team itself, not myself and the team.

As for my actual health status, it's going to be loooooong journey... wait, what? I thought this was a stationary blog!

Well yeah, I am physically stationary at the moment but I must keep moving forward mentally and emotionally, in order to stay strong throughout this hardship. I now must watch my diet, something I have NEVER in my entire life had to do. I've always enjoyed multiple stops at WaWa each week and never even through twice about it. Another way I plan on taking charge of my health is by settling down from partying. I realized as much fun as you can have partying, I've had enough of it... And I'm not even 21! I have the rest of my life to party. For now, I'm focusing on getting healthy and finishing out my senior year of college with a clear mind.

Our lives move at such a fast pace, many people, including myself, don't take the time to look around and find out what truly makes them happy. Well I'm not putting up with it any more. I'm living my life at my own pace and doing what's best for me.

So here's to my stationary journey, a road to recovery, health & happiness. This blog may not be as exciting as its origin but I'm pretty sure at least my mom will read it. And for anyone else who does, please feel free to give any positive advice that you may have :) I appreciate any input from the amazing people in my life.

Peace & love
~mrlb