I am Thankful for my feet.  I am Thankful for my feet.

Repeat 10 times.

This is one of those days that I MUST force myself to be Thankful for these things at the end of my legs that are causing me such intense pain.  Some people don’t have feet.  Therefore, I MUST be thankful that I have feet.

The pain has been building the past few days, probably because I have been functioning at “Normal.” My pain levels went down a couple points on the Richter Scale.  For me, this is HUGE, a reason to celebrate, and enough cause to go 200 miles per hour.

On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest level of pain imaginable, I have scooted through this past year at an 8-9.  It takes A LOT to stop this Energizer Bunny on Crack.

A “10″ day puts me in bed. That’s not good, but it’s something I need to work on.  I need to LISTEN to my body and get OFF my feet BEFORE the pain reaches an 8!  Tragically, there is Always so much to do and I get sucked in. I’m at a 9 right now.  Time to back down.

My Feet dictate my day. It’s Terrible and absolutely WRONG! But that’s how it is.  My feet determine how much I will accomplish, or how little; where I will go or where I won’t; going outside or staying in.  They have too much power.  How do I get it back?

My feet are Giant, reddish-purple, veiny, swollen, stiff and Throbbing.  Paints a pretty picture, doesn’t it? As much as I love summer, I am DREADING the moments when people will stare at my feet.  I have struggled for years with embarrassment of a swollen body.  In High School my knees were bigger than my thighs.  You will never see me in shorts.  I have boundaries.

My feet determine how I will dress, and the style I have.  Pretty dainty girly shoes with heels are merely something to admire from afar. Shoes are like art for me. “Oh- That’s Beautiful!  Look at the colors and the texture…”  I have to wear “special shoes” like Forrest Gump.  Just don’t call me “Grandma.”

Did I mention I am THANKFUL for my feet?

I am stuck in clothes that go with flip flops or tennis shoes.  I STRESS out about occasions that call for a dress.  My heart sinks.  It’s just impossible.

Today I got a sitter.  I was planning on getting work done and a bunch of errands out of the way. My feet have changed my plans… once again.  BIG Sigh…

This is where I just need to adjust and be flexible.  I need to accept what it is and stop fighting it. I need to blend it with Hope and add a Giant Heap of Thankfulness. This recipe makes 20 servings of Peace and JOY…

I will be Thankful that I have someone to chase my toddler all over the house today.  Each step I take is excruciating.  I will be thankful that I do not have to carry around a 25 pound bambino on my hip.  That would just make my feet worse right now.  I will be Thankful that I can just put my feet up and rest for a bit.  I deserve it.

I will be Thankful for my feet. I will try to love them UNCONDITIONALLY. I have to be Thankful that these kind of days are happening less.  It makes me appreciate the good days when my pain level is only a 6. I have to believe that it won’t ALWAYS be like this. One day, the pain will go down to a 2… then a 1… then NOTHING AT ALL!!!

For now, these are my footprints. There’s just one set today.