[5/23/12] Resting.

My surgery was almost two weeks ago (although it seriously feels like two months ago). More about that another post.

Since then, life has been a bit different than usual.

I've discovered that one of my talents is not resting.

I've been trying very hard to further develop this talent, but I must admit I'm not doing very well.

When the nurse was giving us discharge instructions, she said for the first two weeks I need to rest, rest, rest. And not over-do it.

And then still rest for the next several weeks, adding in small tasks slowly.

I wish they gave you a list of what not over-doing it entailed.

Yesterday over-doing it was defined as simply standing for a few minutes and helping Kailen sort the laundry. I didn't bend down. I didn't lift anything. I'd take a couple of pieces of clothing and drop them into a pile.

A little bit later I was in tears.

John happened to come home right then and asked what was wrong.  After I told him, he told me I was to do nothing. Nothing.

Do you know how hard that is for someone who's used to being busy all the time?

Very hard.

So the rest of yesterday and today I've been trying really hard to be "good." And do nothing. 

My parents, sister, and Zach and Angela are flying in this afternoon for Parker's graduation tomorrow. 

I am so excited!!

It was so extremely difficult, though, last night, to just lay on the couch while everyone else did the "mom's coming to town" clean.

You know the type of cleaning I'm talking about.

You know you do.

Not that my house is dirty or unkempt. I think we do pretty good at keeping things clean.

But when your mom's coming to town, you do the sort of clean that is equivalent to putting your house on the market to sell.

I'm so blessed to have a family that stepped right up and took care of everything. I'd get up off the couch and promptly be told to lay back down.

Yes, my family is totally awesome!

But it was still hard.

From time to time in the past I've daydreamed about how fabulous it would be to have a few days to do whatever I wanted. You know, read books from my large to-be-read pile, watch movies, etc.

Let me tell you, it's not what it's cracked up to be.

Not at all.  

Maybe if I felt better it would be more fun. But it lost it's funness after about day two.

During this resting period I've watched TV and movies (so thankful for Netflix), read the Hunger Games series (yes, I'm sure I'm one of the few people on the planet who hadn't read these books. I'm almost done with book 3), and played "Words with Friends" and "Scramble with Friends." I'm so thankful for friends and family who have done their part to try and keep me entertained during my resting period. Technology is awesome!

But since I still have a few more weeks of various stages of resting, I'll continue to try and improve this talent.

Hopefully, I'll get better at it.

And I'm sure next semester when I'm in the thick of classes and assignments and family stuff, I'll look back at these few weeks and wish I could again have a few days to do nothing.

Life is funny that way.