When you are feeling broke, everyone else is getting promoted or going on vacation.
When you are watching what you eat, the rest of the world starts baking and indulging.
When you are lonely and single, everywhere you look you see sickeningly happy couples.
When you give up caffeine, every parent is sporting a starbucks cup at after school pick up.
When your child throws an ugly fit in the library, you are surrounded by smiling, whispering, children.
When you injure your knee in January, the entire planet decides that February and March are for running.
It has been decided that these months are for running, happy running. Not the type that leaves you scowling in the rain checking your time every 3 minutes. Rather lovely, endorphin filled running that leaves you in love with life. I want to be filled with endorphins, flying around the city. Alas, I am walking dogs and trying to ignore the dull ache in me right knee.
I don’t know how this happened. Maybe it was running, maybe it was another fitness adventure. Blooming with the new year, a dull pain emerged in my outer right knee. Naturally, I ignored it and relied on my bodies super healing powers to take over. That didn’t work, so started icing after working it. But, the irritation became mild pain. Once I started (lightly) training for a ½ marathon at the end of January, it stubbornly dug in it’s heals. I dug in mine too. Knee postured. I stuck out my tounge. Jab-cross-jab-hook-strike. OUCH!!!
Post runs left me unable to walk down stairs with out clutching the side of the walls. I couldn’t cross my legs when seated with out irritation. Going from seated to standing was reminiscent of my arthritic grandfather rocking out of his armchair. My knee threw up it’s arms in victory and started singing that horrible “We are the Champions” song by Queen. I gave it a raspberry and put up my feet.
I woke up with remorse for my poor behavior. But, it was too late. Knee was giving me the silent treatment. I think that I went too far this time. I am not sure that we can ever trust each other the way we used too. My doctor says that knee's affliction is an irritated meniscus. It’s probably not a tear, but it won’t heal without rest. In fact, it will get worse without rest. Just to be sure I tested that out a couple of times. He was right, athletic impact made it worse. It has been over 4 weeks of nothing but yoga and other low impact activities, and still my meniscus is holding a grudge.
Last week I celebrated my thirty-seventh birthday. I think I have finally learned a lesson that I should have learned at twenty-one. I’m NOT invincible. Hurt happens, injuries happen, disappointment happens. My body will age. I hope to repair the damage I have done. I suppose that leaves me to wait and listen.
