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March 5, 2007
Re-Creation
Hazel wrote a beautiful post recently in which she talked about engaging in recreation activities and rest as a way of taking care of herself. She wrote:
But actually, the reason I'm doing so well emotionally and physically and in my CRON practice and relationship and having time for recreational activities, etc, is because I take care of myself, I give myself plenty of free time, and I "listen to my body" and respect that I have "needs" etc.
You go girl, I say, unreservedly.
This is a concept I've been experimenting with in my life as of late. For most of my life, I've been chronically sleep-deprived, working myself into constant exhaustion, and likely destroying though stress any life-extension gains I may have made through diet. Last year was particularly bad. MR watched in horror as I lived without adequate sleep for weeks on end, and even when I was at home and supposedly relaxing, I was still thinking about work all the time.
I am so very grateful to have been blessed with a partner who was willing to live with me through these times and still remain steadfast in his support. But more than anything, I have come to appreciate as of late how little time any of us has, even if CR and biomedical interventions into the aging process really do give us more years of healthy life.
Lately I've been sleepy. Very sleepy. Since I increased my exercise, I've been noticing a certain floppiness about myself... I love to catch a nap on a weekend afternoon, and I go to bed earlier and sleep later. Still only sleeping until 6:20, but this is late for us.
I think this is really, really important. When I'm very tired, it's my body's way of telling me that it needs to re-create itself. By spending time in recreational pursuits, like exercise, meditation, and sleep, I'm re-creating my very body and soul. What could be more important?
For eleven years, probably longer, I lived my life as though energy were a fuel to be used up, like you could just go to the gas station and fill up with more later. Lately I've begun to realize that's not how it works. The toll of my last few campaigns has been more than just some missed sleep and a few stressful days.
As Shawn Colvin said in the wonderful song, "Diamond in the Rough" off her "Steady On" album:
I have lost too much sleep
I'm gonna find it.
A few months ago one of my most loyal readers warned me that all that I was doing for life-extension was going to go to waste if I didn't address the extreme stress in my life. I want her to know that I've been addressing that stress, scaling back, and learning what makes me feel good. Lots of good food, rest, exercise, time with friends, and love from my orange are what makes me feel re-created every day.
It's tempting to sink back into the grind of caring about nothing but work, but I fight it. And lately, I've been making progress. It's an uphill climb, but what else are you going to do? I love my nurses, my job, the movement, and the feeling of helping workers get a voice on the job. But if I destroy my own health, it's not going to be worth it in the end. You'd think that a CR practitioner and life-extensionist would have figured that earlier, but sometimes I'm a little slow. It tooks tons of meditation for me to realize that I have to be there for myself before I can truly be there for others.
So I will, with dedication and commitment (which I can spell thanks to A DNJ d G), continue to work out, do Pilates, get lots of sleep, spend time with my friends and family, and indulge in early morning and late night cat cuddles.
At least I have some great socks to wear to the gym.
Posted by april at March 5, 2007 6:56 PM
Comments
April, this post couldn't have come at a better time. This weekend I hit the wall and had a major meltdown, all due too lack of sleep, poor eating, and spreading myself too thin.
What good am i to myself or my family if i'm constantly rundown, stressed & cranky? Hubby & I have had a long talk and the wheels of change are in motion :) I'm going back to teaching classes at the gym where I belong!
Posted by: Jacqueline at March 5, 2007 8:24 PM
I never skimp on sleep and sleep very soundly most of the time. The theory now is that sleep is used by your brain to move your short term memory to long term and reorganize memories. I find that I solve a lot of problems while I sleep - and always have - all my life. Something I can't figure out before I go to bed is all clear to me in the morning. My best ideas are always the first ones of the day.
Posted by: Little MR at March 5, 2007 9:24 PM
I had the amazing luck to have seen Shawn Colvin perform *solo* at Indiana University at Bloomington, where I was a student in 1989. She was touring in support of Steady On, and I sat in the very front row in the tiny Frangipani Room at the Student Union, while she performed all those great tunes with nothing but a guitar and stool. Oh, what a great memory you brought back to me!
Beautiful post.
"You're shining, I can see you
You're smiling, that's enough."
Posted by: Chris at March 5, 2007 9:41 PM
WOW, I so completely understand.
my job is taking so much out of me, and it seems the only way to be my best at work, is to take care of myself through cron.
where does the fun happen anymore?
Posted by: sheila at March 5, 2007 10:00 PM
I like this post. It speaks to me. I, too, suffer from the stress monster (as you well know). I don't deal with it well. I'm making an effort to get back on track and taking care of myself instead of using my love of the vine to help myself relax (a long-standing crutch for me). In fact, as I type this (at 5 am), I'm getting ready to do some yoga. Yay me!
Thanks for an inspiring post.
Amy
Posted by: Amy at March 6, 2007 3:18 AM