​Yesterday I started a water therapy class at the Y called Healthy Back. I’m not much of a pool person, so the decision to join in a class like this did not come easily. But after several people recommended water therapy as something that might help me strengthen my back and relieve the pain, I decided to take the plunge (pardon the pun).
 
I quickly discovered that this was a well-established community, and while I was immediately recognized as a “newbie,” I was welcomed with open arms. I was introduced to several of the regulars who eagerly shared their stories. After all, when you are floating around in the deep end of the pool on a noodle doing bicycle legs and feeling like a sea-horse, there is lots of room for conversation. I wondered if sea-horses bobbed around having underwater conversations (maybe there’s a book in there!).
 
The instructor showed me how to do each exercise before she announced it to the group, always reminding me to go at my own pace and listen to my body. She sympathized, complemented, and offered helpful suggestions and explanations. I felt comfortable, most likely because I was able to draw quite a few parallels to what happens in a community of writers, especially here at TWT.
 
The hour went by quickly and although there were some tough exercises, there was also laughter, comradery, and yes, even singing. But I’ll save that story for later.

​January, 2016 – I was ready! After a wonderful season of celebrations, I was feeling the need to get balance back in my life – a little bit of work and play every day, healthy eating and exercise, maybe some work toward the goals I set for the year. I even chose “balance” as my One Little Word for 2016. But one small movement toward the end of the first week sidelined me for the rest of the month. I stood up, felt the ping, and knew the back injury I had sustained in January, 2015 was revisiting me. It’s a common ailment – a bulging disk pressing on a nerve – that makes standing and walking extremely painful. I knew what to do, I knew who to see, so I started the slow road to recovery (although I am not quite there yet). But I also started to feel sorry for myself, watching all my best laid plans for getting back on track in January slip me by. Poor me!
 
But as I felt a bit of depression creeping in, I was reminded that my problem was minor compared to some. Within a few weeks I learned that a good friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer again (something she thought she had beaten years ago), three friends as well as my sister were dealing with major health problems in their family, and two other friends experienced the heartbreaking loss of their mothers. I could envision all the prayers circling the stars, trying hard to penetrate the dark cloud that seemed to be hovering in my world. And that’s when I knew I could put the balance back in my life. I just had to find the right perspective. Everyone experiences problems in life, but we have to rise above, keep praying, keep moving forward, and put things in perspective.
 
So good-bye January! May February bring a rainbow of health and happiness to everyone!