No Room for Me or My Health
I wasn’t looking at the big picture when I made that plan, I wasn’t taking into consideration that I had a health problem that I had been ignoring. For the past six months, I’ve had some back trouble as a result of my super sedentary job. It’s been getting harder to do day to day stuff because it hurts. Sitting, standing, walking, not walking…it’s all been hard. Some days are great, some days are okay, but most days range from moderately uncomfortable to downright painful.
I’ve wanted to start being more active because I know that’s part of my health problem but I can’t because my back starts to stiffen up and I know what will come if I keep pushing. Nothing good, let me tell you. I’ve gone to a massage therapist a few times and it relaxes things enough that I can go on for a few days but then it starts to get gross again within a week. Months went before I thought about my health…but then everything came to a head – literally.
Last Monday, I woke up with a blinding headache. It was the kind of headache that left me scrambling for a bucket because I was nauseous from pain. I could tell it was from all my back trouble – I could feel it. Why am I painting this pretty picture? I’ll tell you.
I am an idiot. A. Really. Big. Certifiable. I-d-i-o-t. I have been so caught up these last few years last few months with trying to achieve something financially, that I pushed my health to the side to the point where I’m bent over a barf bowl and wishing I was dead. How dumb is that? Soooo very dumb.
I want so desperately to be done with debt, to have choices, and to enjoy life without this giant black cloud of MONEY TROUBLES hanging over me everywhere I go. Apparently, I’m so desperate, I’m willing to put this chronic back problem on the back burner and just continue on. The amazing thing is that I didn’t even realize I was doing it.
For months, I was going along and managing it as another unpleasant aspect of my life. In fairness, the back pain did kind of creep up on me. It started out as maybe something I’d take Advil for once a month, then maybe twice a month, and then once a week. Now it’s gotten to the point where it’s almost weird if I don’t have Advil flowing through my system – I take it almost every two days. I hear it’s bad for your kidneys. Good thing I have two of them.
My Health in Last Place
Why haven’t I really done anything about my health? Well, that’s an interesting question. And one that I don’t have a great answer for. To be honest, I think I got so used to feeling crappy all the time, I stopped questioning it. Whenever I did question it, I just pushed it to the side because I figured all solutions would cost hundreds of dollars and I didn’t want to spend that on myself. Always later, later, later. After all, who doesn’t get a stiff back once in a while?
So back to that Monday and I’m sitting on the floor with a barf bucket and a death wish. I decide, then and there, that this crap is not going to work for me anymore and I’m go figure it out and deal with it. I made an appointment with a physiotherapist that a staff member from work suggested.
My Health as a Priority
I had that appointment with the Physiotherapist tonight. She did her assessment and figured I had some alignment and muscle something-or-other and that I would have to come see her for about six weeks. My health plan will cover about half of it but this will take about $700.00 from my debt repayment plan over the next few months.
I’m frustrated, for sure. I hate that it will take me even longer to pay down the credit cards. In fact, I take that pretty personally. But when I think about what living with this back pain will mean over more days, weeks, and months, I can’t do it. I won’t do it. I’m not being fair to myself. If I put myself last, then I’m going to pay for that.
So, yes, we’ll have to figure out new numbers and new ways of making that debt pay-off thing happen. More importantly, I think I have to figure out a better way of managing this area of my life. I need to make space in my own life for me, not just debt – God, this sounds New Age and flakey.
This debt thing will not be solved overnight – I have at least another four or five years. I have to find a way to be okay with that time frame. I have no idea how I’m going be okay with all that but I think that by actually stopping to understand how this is affecting me in the moment is a good start.
Stupid self-awareness, why are you so hard to learn?
How about you? Have you ever gotten super tunnel-vision about something in your life?
Great, insightful post! We’ve all let things go by the wayside from time to time, and it’s really cool how self-aware you are to recognize the problem and look for a long-term rather than short-term fix. Health in particular is something that I think many people ignore for far too long, myself included. Up until the last few months, it had been a few years since I did any kind of regular exercise. I’ve started small but incorporated a small amount of exercise each day since then, and I definitely feel a difference.
Good luck with the therapy! I hope you find a painless way forward.
Hi Matt
Thanks for the vote of confidence! It’s easy for me to get impatient and annoyed with “silly things” like my limitations. I’m not super comfortable with this as a concept and the idea of slowing down to “accommodate” these things does not come naturally.
Like you, it’s been a few years since I’ve really exercised. For awhile, I was eating well and exercising regularly – I lost twenty pounds and felt great. Then I forgot about that and started doing stupid stuff. I will need to make a re-commitment to starting to exercise ’cause that was one of the areas the physiotherapist pointed out.
Thanks for commenting!
Lindsey
I can relate. I’ve been working a crazy amount of overtime at work lately to try and kill my debt (and save for a house). I’ve been doing a great job on my financial goals but my health and fitness have definitely suffered because of this. I also work at a very sedentary job and now I’m sitting for about 10 hours a day rather than 8 plus 8 hours on Saturdays as well. So, I’ve decided to take a bit of a break, and put the financial goals on the mid-burner while I concentrate on eating properly and getting more exercise. I also want to get outside more and enjoy the weather.
Hope everything works out and you’re not in pain anymore.
Hi Morgaine!
Yeah! The over time is such an invitation to only focus on the financial goals. I like that you have decided to try and rebalance yourself with health before things become a real issue for you.
This is also a great time because, like you say, the weather is finally starting to get nice!
Happy fitnessing!
Lindsey
Not flakey at all. Debt should not consume you. Your health and happiness should be #1 priority. I often have “wake up calls” realizing once more that life is short and, if we could die at any given moment, we should be spending our time doing things that we love, that make us happy and feel good. Having debt, knowing it’s there, does weigh on me but I just have to keep reminding myself that it does not define me.
Thanks buddy! I appreciate what you’re saying – especially since I know you are also working with a longer term debt repayment plan. It’s important to think bigger than just the numbers and realize there really is more to life than paying down debt. I don’t need to put everything on hold!
Cheers
Lindsey
One thing about pain is that if it becomes Chronic it follows you around for life. Like paying the mortgage and rent to keep the roof over our heads so we are safe we also have to pay our bodies with nutrition, exercise and health care. I know it’s easier said then done but we only get one shot at life so take care yourself so you can then take care of your debts. 🙂 Mr.CBB
Thanks Mr. CBB 🙂 So true, friend. I am a renewable resource but only if I invest properly. Cheers!