It’s been ages since I’ve written and I guess I just haven’t been feeling all that inspired to write. Having said that, I’ve got lots of ideas following my recent, amazing trip to Bucharest for the MS Sessions (more on that in a blog in the VERY near future).

But today, I want to talk about the mind/body link. Because today, mine are totally not on the same page, and haven’t been for the last month or so.

Some of you reading this will know that Dave and I completed on our first home just over three weeks ago. And it’s amazing. I truly, could not be happier.* But my word, isn’t moving exhausting? There’s been a never ending stream of flat pack, boxes, admin, decorating and just “stuff to do”. Throw a trip to Bucharest in the middle of it all and you end up with one exhausted MSer.

I try to slow down, but my brain is constantly thinking of the (what seems like) 1,001 things that I need to do. Add to that, I’ve been crazy busy at work this week and I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed. I’m not living in the present – I’m constantly looking at the next task.

Let’s back track a second.

The day after I got back from Bucharest, Dave and I headed out to do a food shop. And for the first time I felt like my disability wasn’t invisible anymore. I was walking along with stiff legs. My knees just wouldn’t bend. My balance was way off. I’d gotten out of bed that morning and had fallen straight back in.

My first thought was “shit, am I having a relapse?” A couple of weeks on and I’m almost certain that I’m not. I’m just bloody exhausted. BUT I WON’T SLOW DOWN!

I’ve got fellow MSers left, right and centre telling me to “slow the hell down” but I’m not doing it.

And now I find myself lying flat on the bed with every bone and muscle in the lower half of my body aching. All comprehension and reasoning in my brain is gone. Ask my a question and I have no idea what the answer is.

It’s my own fault. I insisted on going out and doing a food shop today. I know, I know, but Lidl don’t deliver and they’re WAY more cheaper. By the time I got home I was physically exhausted. My legs hurt, my hips hurt and my feet hurt. I wanted to cry in pain. I did for about five minutes but got in bed with Pops (my dog) and we had a nap.

The second I woke up (feeling much better), I jumped up and I’m doing all sorts of crap that really does not need to be done yet. And now I’m back in bed in pain again. I know. I’m an idiot.

The thing is, sometimes I don’t feel mentally exhausted. I have so much clarity and I feel like I can take on the world. And I’ll just keep on pushing through the pain to get the job done. I need someone to tell me to stop. Which Dave did eventually do today. After I got up and I started trying to unpack the last boxes, he walks in like “what on earth are you doing?!” and promptly tells me to go and put my feet up.

Thing is, when I don’t feel tired, it’s tough to stop me. I physically find it hard to just sit and do nothing. I get restless. I’ll keep on going until the pain cripples me and someone tells me to stop being a hero and sit down.

Really, what I need to do is learn to accept that almost everything really can wait until tomorrow. I don’t have to constantly live “getting shit done” and at 100mph. And let’s face it, the only person beating me up when it’s not getting done, is me.

*That’s a lie. I’d be happier if the used tea bags actually made their way to the bin and if he bought 3ply loo roll and not 2, but I can just about live with it 😂