Jayniana Jones and Second Chances

[Jayniana Jones]

I skipped last round of the challenge because... well, because. The previous challenge I had participated in, I had accepted that I'd be using crutches for at least another year (I already had nearly 9 months under my belt - plus two months from ACL surgery). Then I met a magic chiropractor the same day I had met with a surgeon to schedule foot reconstruction. The chiropractor made some tweaks and adjustments. If my leg hadn't been so atrophied from not being used I think I could've walked out of his office without crutches. However, I walked 2 miles two days later with my crutches slung over my shoulder on the return trip. It has been six weeks and I have very little pain (the pain is from days when I overdo things). My biggest problem now is holding myself back because I'm super excited to return to normal.

 

I'm not exactly sure what happened. What exactly the chiropractor did so that I could walk without pain and swelling? His reply was I had damaged a part of my brain from a climbing accident I had 20 years ago and he was helping my brain remember that I had a left leg. It's a similar rehab used for people who have strokes.

 

So with the second chance, I want to make sure that I live with more intentionality. That is what this round is about. 

 

I plan to:

- Continue rebuilding my body.

I'm currently doing an upper workout with dumbbells, pilates with a lower workout (I'm allowed to do 3 sets of 3-5 squats and lunges), something cardio (I can walk, bike, or run 40 minutes per day), yoga sessions on the floor or in a chair, and chair cardio. I don't have a set schedule but I'm trying to do weights a minimum of two times a week. Right now I base my exercise on how I feel pain-wise. I push my limits.

 

- Remove pounds.

Since my visit to the magic chiropractor, I have removed 5 pounds. I have 25 to go to return to my weight before my first ACL surgery. I don't want my weight to be my focus, but I can't ignore that it's a tangible goal I'm working on. I'd like to keep the trend of removing half a pound to one pound per week. My target weight is one that I felt the best at when I was in great shape (about four years ago).

The goal for the end of the challenge is to be 2-4 pounds lighter.

 

- Be intentional. 

My hubby and I had one of those arguments where we weren't fighting about the issue that triggered lost tempers but something deeper. Truth spilled out and I realized that I have to stop putting others' needs before my own. Putting myself last makes me a tough person to live with. With that in mind, mornings are mine to work at my novel or freelance writing projects, to read, to paint, to draw, to workout, to do whatever I want for me. The afternoons are for teaching my teens, working with clients, running family members around, doing errands, catching up with extended family members, preparing meals, etc.

My intentional me time needs to happen 4-5 mornings a week.

 

- Push my comfort zone.

I got cozy in the life I created. I hadn't realized it until I faced losing another year to eighteen months to recovering from a surgery that didn't have guarantees of fixing the problem. There are so many things I hadn't done yet that I really wanted to do. Yes, they can be done with knee scooters and crutches but it becomes much harder. So with intention, my comfort zone needs to grow.

Here are the things I plan to have done by the end of the challenge:

• Meet a stranger for coffee.
• Fill out Submit the paperwork for my family to get our passports.
• Reconnect with a long lost friend. (They aren't really lost, I just haven't spoken to a few of them for a year or more.)
• Fill out and submit my application for the church band. This one freaks me out because I want to sing for the band and I've haven't sung in front of people since I was 12 years-old.
• Pay cash for everything. (This will help accelerate the funds we're setting aside for our mega road trip to the Southwesterly states - NB, CO, UT, NV, CA, AZ, NM, and KS.) 

 

I haven't decided how frequently I want to post updates on the forum. I'm thinking I should try for at least 3 times a week. I've noticed when I don't check in regularly I feel disconnected from everyone. And, of course, I want to follow everyone more regularly too.  

 

 

 

[Dagger]

I think your goals sounds great. And it is nice to see such excitement.

 

I think it is so great that you could avoid another surgery and can now walk again. Brains are so strange, but also surprisingly wonderful at times.

 

I'm here cheering you on!

[Vibrantella]

Wow, a magic chiropractor indeed!  So happy for you!  

 

Great challenge goals, I especially like the comfort zone expansion.  Good luck!

[Sylvaa]

Welcome back!

 

I'm so happy you have found an alternative to the surgery - and that it's helping!

 

Love the idea of being intentional and I can't wait to see you have an amazing challenge this time around!

[Jayniana Jones]

On 6/27/2017 at 5:36 AM, Vibrantella said:

Wow, a magic chiropractor indeed!  So happy for you!  

 

Great challenge goals, I especially like the comfort zone expansion.  Good luck!

Thanks. The comfort zone one makes me nervous, which I figure is a good sign. 

 

On 6/27/2017 at 9:37 AM, Sylvaa said:

Welcome back!

 

I'm so happy you have found an alternative to the surgery - and that it's helping!

 

Love the idea of being intentional and I can't wait to see you have an amazing challenge this time around!

Thanks. Every day I wake up expecting a fluke with my foot and then filled with gratitude that I can move. I know the challenge doesn't start for another week, but I'm already finding it hard to be intentional. I blame it on my teens because I drop everything to help them.  

 

 

On 6/27/2017 at 3:17 AM, Dagger said:

I think your goals sounds great. And it is nice to see such excitement.

 

I think it is so great that you could avoid another surgery and can now walk again. Brains are so strange, but also surprisingly wonderful at times.

 

I'm here cheering you on!

Thanks. I wish I had known sooner that I just had to introduce my brain to my leg. It could've saved time and cash. 

[Jayniana Jones]

My plan is to post updates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I may have to adjust the schedule but consistency could be my friend (do you hear that brain?).

 

Tuesday: I did a 45-minute workout. It included a warm-up, 3-rounds of squats, 3-rounds of lunges (a lot harder than I expected because I hadn't realized how much the ankle and calf muscles are used to hold the leg in place), 3 rounds of balancing on my left foot and then my right foot while looking around the room - 20 seconds each round, 50 bicycle crunches, and a cool down. I also experimented with some relaxation techniques: isometric release, alternate nostril breathing, and compassionate touch (a very simple form of Reiki).

 

I also completed a 40-minute walk with my Australian shepherd.

 

Intentional time: 30 min. Being intentional is going to take practice. I had squeezed in 30 minutes (not counting my workout) before I had to go pick up my teens from work. The rest of the day was eaten up by clients and family.

 

Pushing my comfort zone: I printed out the passport applications to fill out for our family. I'll need posterboard for the passport pictures. Printing the applications was a great stalling technique because it took longer than I thought to read the information. Unfortunately, I can't send the paperwork through the mail.

 

--------------------------------------------------

 

Today was nuts. I spent most of it as an unpaid taxi driver and waited in the hospital for my grandma's cataract surgery to be complete. There were some minor issues so we were there longer than anticipated. I managed 2-20 minute walks today. It would've been a 40-minute walk the first round if there hadn't been a tornado warning issued. A tornado touched down about 30 miles from us. The storm passed over us with heavy winds but thankfully no twister. This is the third tornado in the last year that has touched down close by. A previous one was 7 miles from our house and did damage for five miles. Luckily no one was injured.

 

Intentional time: 1 1/2 hours (not counting my workout). As a side note, my intentional time includes starting a freelance writing business because I think I can handle a 20-hour part-time job in my messy life. Hopefully, my numbers get closer to this threshold as the challenge continues.

 

Pushing my comfort zone: I contacted a stranger via e-mail with an offer to meet at a local cafe. This is someone a friend told me I'm supposed to meet because she loves to write and loves the outdoors. It felt odd to send an e-mail saying "Hey, you don't know me but do you want to meet in town?"  

 

 

 

[Dagger]

5 hours ago, Jayniana Jones said:

Pushing my comfort zone: I contacted a stranger via e-mail with an offer to meet at a local cafe. This is someone a friend told me I'm supposed to meet because she loves to write and loves the outdoors. It felt odd to send an e-mail saying "Hey, you don't know me but do you want to meet in town?"

That definitely is something that would push my comfort zone a lot. I love that you are putting a focus on this. Something I might try in a future challenge.

[Sylvaa]

10 hours ago, Jayniana Jones said:

Pushing my comfort zone: I printed out the passport applications to fill out for our family. I'll need posterboard for the passport pictures. Printing the applications was a great stalling technique because it took longer than I thought to read the information. Unfortunately, I can't send the paperwork through the mail.

 

If you are in the US, I would look into going to a local library to get your passport stuff ready to go. We were able to fill out the application online, print it out, then take it with us. There is a processing fee for this, but it stays within your local library system and (at least ours) was so much nicer than the post office.

 

Intentional time is so important! Glad it sounds as if you are working mindfully to incorporate more into your life.

[Jayniana Jones]

Thursday:

My workout was a 40 minute speed walk with Buddy. I logged about 2.5 hours writing and .5 hours painting. 

 

Friday:

I took a me day once my hubby got back from his morning radio show. It was nice to be by myself and go at my own pace in stores. The one bummer is I had planned to get myself a cupcake but I listened to a fitness podcast about overeating and lost my desire for one. I went into the shop planning to buy one to take home and walked out with nothing. Yeah for zero calories, but boo for skipping a yummy cupcake. 

 

I did a 30 minute walk and a 30 minute Pilates workout. 

 

I managed to get 2 hours of writing in as well.

 

I heard back from the stranger I contacted for a meeting. She is excited to meet me. We're coordinating dates. It turns out we live very close to each other. I feel calm at the moment, but I expect to freak out the day we meet.  

[WolfDreamer]

I read your challenge title and immediately thought of the Shinedown song "Second Chance."

 

Great challenge and some excellent goals.

[Dagger]

11 hours ago, Jayniana Jones said:

I heard back from the stranger I contacted for a meeting. She is excited to meet me. We're coordinating dates. It turns out we live very close to each other. I feel calm at the moment, but I expect to freak out the day we meet.  

Nice!

[WolfDreamer]

13 hours ago, Jayniana Jones said:

Yeah for zero calories, but boo for skipping a yummy cupcake.

 

I really appreciate your honesty and transparency here. There is a wonderful cupcake shop not far from where I live, and I used to justify buying their humongous (I'm not exaggerating, those things are huge) sweet treats. I would say things like "I'm helping a local business," "These aren't just cupcakes, these are works of culinary art," "This is literally the ONLY place I can get a cupcake like this." So I would buy one, eat it, enjoy every single bite, and then feel miserable hours later. I'm pretty sure those cupcakes are made for two-three people.

 

So I don't go there anymore. But I want to...I really want to.

[Kalitraz]

14 hours ago, Jayniana Jones said:

Yeah for zero calories, but boo for skipping a yummy cupcake. 

I should think it'd be yay for skipping a yummy cupcake. Willpower won! 

 

I like your challenge. Will be following along.  

[Jayniana Jones]

On 6/29/2017 at 8:25 AM, Sylvaa said:

If you are in the US, I would look into going to a local library to get your passport stuff ready to go. We were able to fill out the application online, print it out, then take it with us. There is a processing fee for this, but it stays within your local library system and (at least ours) was so much nicer than the post office.

Thanks for the tip.

 

This may be a peek into how far into the boonies I live. I looked into this option. I can print the application from home, but the only place I can process my passport stuff is with the County Clerk (about 30 miles away from here between 8am-2) or in the next city over (a 45-mile drive) at the post office. Our post office and library don't have the resources or manpower to handle passports. Gotta love small town living.  

[SageAndRage]

@Jayniana Jones one of my favorite parenting rules that my friend implemented with her teens (which is a modified version of the rules my parents had) was:

"Moms working hours end at ________ time." AKA "Your emergency doesn't have to be my priority." 

Basically it sets a rule for not just them, but yourself and encourages people to think ahead, which is a valuable lesson.

[Jayniana Jones]

On 6/30/2017 at 11:13 PM, Wolfen said:

I read your challenge title and immediately thought of the Shinedown song "Second Chance."

 

Great challenge and some excellent goals.

Thanks. I went and listened to the song just for good ol' times sake.  

 

On 7/1/2017 at 9:57 AM, Wolfen said:

 

I really appreciate your honesty and transparency here. There is a wonderful cupcake shop not far from where I live, and I used to justify buying their humongous (I'm not exaggerating, those things are huge) sweet treats. I would say things like "I'm helping a local business," "These aren't just cupcakes, these are works of culinary art," "This is literally the ONLY place I can get a cupcake like this." So I would buy one, eat it, enjoy every single bite, and then feel miserable hours later. I'm pretty sure those cupcakes are made for two-three people.

 

So I don't go there anymore. But I want to...I really want to.

 

The way you describe them I'm glad they aren't near me. I'd probably do the same as you and get really creative with why I need just one more bite. Pure culinary works of art are the worst kinds of temptations. I'm a pretty normal person but I swear really good cupcake places have voices beckoning me to come inside. Luckily, my favorite cupcake place is an hour and fifteen-minute drive.

 

On 7/1/2017 at 11:10 AM, Kalitraz said:

I should think it'd be yay for skipping a yummy cupcake. Willpower won! 

 

I like your challenge. Will be following along.  

Yes, technically it is yay for willpower too. However, my love for a good cupcake runs deep.  Thanks for following.

 

6 hours ago, NotThePrincessPeach said:

@Jayniana Jones one of my favorite parenting rules that my friend implemented with her teens (which is a modified version of the rules my parents had) was:

"Moms working hours end at ________ time." AKA "Your emergency doesn't have to be my priority." 

Basically it sets a rule for not just them, but yourself and encourages people to think ahead, which is a valuable lesson.

Excellent suggestion. I decided after July 4 to set my mornings as my work time and my teens will have to wait until after lunch to disturb me. I might have to issue an "or else" just to make them laugh strike fear into their hearts. 

[WolfDreamer]

23 minutes ago, Jayniana Jones said:

I'm a pretty normal person but I swear really good cupcake places have voices beckoning me to come inside.

 

And it makes it tougher when the owner is really sweet (like her cupcakes).

[Jayniana Jones]

The weekend had lots of driving and being on my feet.

Saturday
I went with my dad on a day trip that resulted in about 8 1/2 hours on the road. It was nice to spend time with him. He's healing from the loss of my mom and is doing as well as he can. He's shopping for the perfect Jeep (Rubicon with all the off trail setup) so we did a lot of chatting about Jeeps and the different models.

 

Sunday
I worked the coffee bar at church, ran some errands, and, after lunch, I decided to geocache for the afternoon. I haven't geocached for nearly 2 1/2 years because of my crutches and foot paraphernalia (I'm not a fan of park and grabs). It felt good to march through the woods. Although I learned I'm not the person I want watching out for me. I set my timer so that I wouldn't exceed my 40-minute walking limit. It's debatable if I even had that considering my morning on my feet. When the timer when off I reset it because I just wanted to get the cache 300 feet away... I found the cache but hobbled back to the car. That evening we saw fireworks and I walked another 30-minutes. I didn't think much of it until afterward when I couldn't walk all the way to the car. 

 

Monday
I need to slow down. My foot wasn't happy this morning. I ignored it and did some chores. By mid-afternoon, I iced twice. I planned to do my workout this evening and ended up able to do a 10-minute walk, followed by 20-minuntes of icing, and a floor yoga session. I'm a bit irked with myself because I know my injury isn't something I can ignore or power through. Thankfully, I have nothing left to do today that requires my feet.

 

Comfort Zone Progress:

-My "meet with a stranger" date is set for July 13. Gulp.

-My families passport applications are filled in and printed (it took me six tries to get all my information correct because I wouldn't see my typos until I opened the PDF). Geesh. I had a good laugh about it once I walked had the final copy. Our lovely portraits will be taken tomorrow because everyone will be around. Then Wednesday (if all goes well) we'll take a field trip to the County Courthouse. 

 

Intentional Time:

Over the weekend I didn't keep track because most of the time it's about doing fun things with my family members.

Today (Monday) I managed 2.5 hours.

 

[Dagger]

4 hours ago, Jayniana Jones said:

My families passport applications are filled in and printed (it took me six tries to get all my information correct because I wouldn't see my typos until I opened the PDF). Geesh. I had a good laugh about it once I walked had the final copy. Our lovely portraits will be taken tomorrow because everyone will be around. Then Wednesday (if all goes well) we'll take a field trip to the County Courthouse. 

I would not have been laugh it off that soon after.

[WolfDreamer]

8 hours ago, Jayniana Jones said:

I need to slow down. My foot wasn't happy this morning. I ignored it and did some chores. By mid-afternoon, I iced twice. I planned to do my workout this evening and ended up able to do a 10-minute walk, followed by 20-minuntes of icing, and a floor yoga session. I'm a bit irked with myself because I know my injury isn't something I can ignore or power through. Thankfully, I have nothing left to do today that requires my feet.

 

Be careful! But I love that you are in tune with what's necessary. Sometimes it's good to push the "boundaries" just a bit, but not too much. Hopes for quick healing and less pain.

[Jayniana Jones]

On 7/4/2017 at 1:06 AM, Dagger said:

I would not have been laugh it off that soon after.

Normally, I wouldn't have either except I've learned to build a humor buffer with tech especially when I get a bit dumb. Sadly, I'm pretty computer savvy and I still make tons of errors that makes my hubby (a major computer nerd) laugh quite heartily.

 

However, I nearly had a meltdown Tuesday evening when I was trying to get the passport photos to turn out and the printer to work. I still haven't been able to laugh that one off yet...

[Jayniana Jones]

On 7/4/2017 at 5:28 AM, Wolfen said:

Be careful! But I love that you are in tune with what's necessary. Sometimes it's good to push the "boundaries" just a bit, but not too much. Hopes for quick healing and less pain.

Thanks. I'm a natural boundary pusher which gets me into trouble. 

[Jayniana Jones]

Progress report:

Tuesday:

Workout:
Uppers 1.25 hours. I did it right away in the morning because I wanted to skip it. 

Comfort zone and intentional time:
Confirmed my coffee with a stranger meeting. It's set for 7/13.

Visited family and didn't worry about intentional time.

 

Wednesday:

Workout:
Walked 30 minutes in the evening. My foot/ankle was well enough this morning I jogged across a rather large parking lot with no pain! This evening after my walk my ankle is swollen but not bad. One problem I have is that before my magic chiropractor visit, my pain level on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst frequently hung around 7-9 if I was active, now, I tend to ignore my pain because it is usually around 2-4. I'm thinking I'll need to figure out a way to be more aware of the pain when it first starts so that I can easily get to a resting spot without overdoing things.

 

Comfort zone and intentional time:

Dropped off our passport paperwork. My hubby commented on my calm demeanor when we discovered we needed five checks (one for each passport application) and I only had two in my purse. Thankfully, the bank was about a half mile away so I got some money orders. Things, of course, took longer because of it.

 

Intentional Time: 2.5 hours. I took @NotThePrincessPeach tip and made a sign for my door:

I used some packing tape as my dry erase surface so I change the time as needed. It worked well this afternoon, but that could be because my high school son was more than happy to skip his math lesson. 

 

[Jayniana Jones]

Thursday

I went canoeing for two hours in the morning. The weather was gorgeous and it was hard to work after that.  

 

Intentional time: 2 hours.

 

Friday

Walked 40 minutes with my dog.

Completed my lower "workout" - mainly exercises advised by my chiropractor.

 

Intentional time: 1.5 hours.

 

 

 

[Kalitraz]

Sounds like you are doing really well so far. I like the DIY dry erase board you set up. I think I might steal that Idea for while I'm working from home when there are other people around.