I have talked here about learning from our mistakes. I've talked about accepting our limitations. I've talked about pushing ourselves to find, and accept, our limits.
This week I am here to once again be a bad example.
You see, we just painted our house. I don't mean that we wrote a large check (or put a large expense on a credit card). I mean we got out there with hedge clippers and weed whackers and cleared the yard. We power washed the house and the shop building. We ran rolls of blue tape around windows and doors, and followed that with what seemed like square miles of plastic film.
In truth, I did most of that. My husband is dealing with a medical issue that keeps him off his feet, and as someone who routinely walks 4-6 miles every day it is making him a little crazy. As a result he was forced into the role of go-fer, and even that was more than he should have been doing.
The kids were here for the final week, and for the actual painting. They did a LOT. But I did a lot getting ready for them, and I think I went way past my limits. Every day.
Physical limits are one of the few things I have been forced to acknowledge as I get older, much to my dismay, and the last month has reminded me. I can't just jump into a strenuous activity the way I did in my 20s and 30s. I actually need to maintain my strength and stamina in order to do some of the things I want to.
One day near the end of the project (which isn't really over-I'm still cleaning up and moving things back into place) we had dinner with friends and I realized as we were leaving that I was chilled - something I have come to recognize as a sign of extreme fatigue. I went home and went to bed.
I am grateful that the price I am paying for this lesson is only sore muscles and fatigue. But exhaustion leads to mistakes, and mistakes can lead to the emergency room. That didn't happen for anyone on this project, but this mom fretted over each of the kids driving home after working so hard.
I renewed my gym membership this week, after avoiding most public places during the pandemic. I have accepted that I need to get back into a routine that includes a minimum of physical activity each day.
So here is my reminder to you: Stay active, stay healthy, know your limits, and know how far you can push before you pay the price. Don't exhaust yourself to the point you have nothing left for the rest of your life - especially your creative life!