Category Archives: health & happiness

ouchy knee

23 Friday Jun 2023

Posted by in health, health & happiness, knee saga, knees

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ouchy knee

I have had KNEES for several years now, meaning that I didn’t used to be aware that they were there and then suddenly I was. Stairs were no longer my friend and as for getting down on my knees (yoga, pilates) forget about it. Those days were gone. But this is the first time I have been hit with such a sudden blast of severe stabby pain through my knee (left one) that my leg almost buckled under me and even taking small careful steps afterwards was excruciating. It kind of wore off after a bit, or at least the pain became bearable, but omg what a shock. I almost went to Emergency to get it looked at but then decided to wait it out a bit to see if it improved on its own. For now I’m using a stretchy cloth bandage wrapped around the area but also have one of those “knee sleeves” winging its way to me.

I wondered if this had anything to do with the Chair Yoga/Pilates I’ve been doing, but that stuff is supposed to alleviate or prevent knee pain. In any case, I couldn’t lift my leg in a sitting position now for all the iPhones in China, so any lower body exercise is off for the moment. Gaaah, it’s always something.

chair pilates

21 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by in health, health & happiness, pilates, yoga

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chair pilates

Omg so guess what? There are also Chair Pilates vids out there. I was so excited when I first discovered Chair Yoga last week, and have faithfully been doing one routine a day. But I’ve also been mixing it up with other chair workout options. They are usually 30 minutes and I can choose which one fits in best with whatever else is going on in my morning. And I’m really loving it. Couldn’t be more convenient, in front of my laptop, in my house PJs, getting in a light workout before I start my day. Still early days but I have noticed I am sleeping better, perhaps because I am breathing better? Anyhow, yay me!

chair yoga

12 Monday Jun 2023

Posted by in health, health & happiness, sevilla, yoga

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Today I tried chair yoga for the first time and I think I like it! I’ve had it on my mind to do this for a while, it was just a question of … DOING IT. Then this morning I had nothing else planned and a bit of free time before going out for a walk so I had a look online and this was the first one that came up. It’s about 20 minutes, very slow and gentle, but it kind of perked me up and now I am going to look for more. Afterwards I even did a round of my short routine with weights (arms & legs) and wow, felt great.

So far I like this woman, she’s pleasant and encouraging. But if you know of any others I should try just let me know. Variety is the spice of life!

on being an introvert

31 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by in friends, health, health & happiness

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introvert

I never used to think I was an introvert. I mean, I know I was painfully shy as a child but put that down to the trauma of childhood abuse, etc. Later as a teen and young adult I still felt out of place in groups of people but also really liked being around people. In other words, I liked being social, I just didn’t know how to do it very well. Fast forward to present day and if you met me tomorrow you wouldn’t see any shyness or any sign of me being an introverted person. Unless you know.

And that’s the deal. I think this whole introvert-extrovert thing is one of the most misunderstood “labels” that we like to label people with. You know, just to know who you are dealing with and where you stand as a result of that “knowledge”. And we all do this, even if you think you don’t, at least when we first meet someone.

Thanks to our society – survival of the fittest and all that – extroverts have always been seen as the more successful types, with introverts seen as hiding away, not able to cope, etc. But in fact this is far from reality and there are (at least) four types of introverts according to MBmindfulness…

A Complete Guide To Introverts: The 4 Most Common Types And Signs

Me? I am the social introvert (as a child, totally the anxious introvert). Or who knows, maybe I’m a mix of both at this point, since these are just labels, or guidelines, for understanding yourself and others. My point is that trying to make people fit into a perceived notion of yours does both you and the other person a disservice. I am constantly seen as being this “strong capable woman” and that initially draws people to me (and, let’s face it, I’m also smart, intelligent and fun to be with – SO I AM TOLD). But often times it turns out that the people who only choose to see Smart & Fun Shawn get annoyed, upset, or even really angry when it turns out I’m actually a bit more complex than that.

And it always plays out like this. Once they realise they’ve “made a mistake” with befriending me they look for any comment or action to take the wrong way or out of context to justify them getting the hell out of Dodge, without a word, without an explanation, without any acknowledgement at all for the fact that, hey, the other day I was your friend, remember? I can’t help being an introvert, but I am the same person you met that very first time and I do the best with what I have going for me, but I am not here for your entertainment.  I’m actually a person.

covid 2023

02 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, health, health & happiness, sevilla

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covid 2013

Hey guess what… it’s STILL FUCKING HERE.  Yesterday Peter tested positive for Covid (so far I’m still negative). His symptoms started on Sunday (feeling tired, chesty cough) so we did a test on Sunday evening – negative. But Monday morning there it was. Fuck. Obviously since the positive test result Peter has been keeping to his room, wearing a mask, with the balcony doors open for ventilation… and of course he cancelled his tours this week.

I also got in touch with my clients booked for this week. Told them the situation, that I had so far not tested positive (and of course would test on the morning of the tour) but they have opted to cancel. Fair enough. I wanted that to be their choice, it wasn’t mine to make for them, thinking I was fine, it was theirs to make based on the possibility that I might not be. Totally respect that.

And yeah, it sucks to lose work and income. But I don’t get it. How do people who KNOW they are Covid positive still keep going out and about, keep going to work, keep meeting friends for dinner, going on trips, etc etc fucking etc??? Then there are the people who are in denial, who refuse to test, refuse to acknowledge they may have Covid because… who the fuck even knows why? It makes no sense to me.

There is no such thing as “just a cold” in my house any more. Because there is no such thing as “just a cold” pretty much anywhere in the world any more. In fact, I haven’t had JUST A COLD since December 2019. Gee must’ve had something to do with everyone wearing masks, washing hands, paying attention… though I did finally succumb to Covid in October 2022, just two weeks before I was scheduled for the second booster (fuck fuck fuck). “Mild” symptoms, ten days testing positive, twelve days spent at home until I got two consecutive negative tests, so as not to infect other people. I don’t understand why this is a hard concept to take in, or why people think it’s somehow okay to infect others with a potentially fatal illness, or one that could result in life-long incapacity.

I do understand that we all can’t afford to take time off (god knows I can’t) and I fully acknowledge I take some personal risks that I probably shouldn’t but I have to work and, just like everyone, I want to have a bit of my old life back. Those are my personal choices that I make for myself. But for me to decide… hey, flatmate is down with Covid but so far I’m okay so I’m not going to tell anyone unless I have to… who the fuck even thinks like this? The mind reels. And the heart hurts.