I’ve started to Garden again. Just an hour at a time, but it means so much to me to be outside doing something I love. I was diagnosed with Lyme disease about a year ago and have been unable to do much more than a little yoga and the basic walking needed in everyday life. At the end of an hour of weeding & trimming I was pretty exhausted and needed to lie down and rest for a while, but I was ok. I was able to do the same thing the following weekend with similar results. So I’m thrilled!

I was always such a physically active person before I got sick. I used to go on 60 mile bike rides, kayak, and hike. I slowed down gradually over the last seven or eight years (that’s about the time I got the tick bites that made me sick) until last year when I ended up in the hospital. I feel so grateful that I’m actually getting better. I’m working 6 and ½ hours a day at a desk job now. I’m able to cook and shop for myself. And now I’m starting to garden again.

There is something so satisfying to me about working out. I think one of the reasons it feels so good is it helps me release pent up emotions. It’s always been the way I “let off steam”. So being unable to exercise has been really frustrating and also a little enlightening. Since I couldn’t just exhaust my body until the emotions let go of me, I’ve had to find other ways to work through my sadness, anger, and frustration. I’ve had to face people and situations that I would have literally run from before. Now that I’m getting well I hope I don’t forget the lessons that being sick have taught me.