BLISS

I found my bliss. I was not looking for it and maybe that is why I found it. Or maybe I was looking for it but in all the wrong places. I knew when I had found it though because I felt like a light deep inside had been turned on.

Breaking my shoulder was not the most earth-shattering thing in the world and certainly others have gone through much more painful events or crisis. This was at the very least, a big life changer for me and for the better.

As I have posted, the injury brought me happily back to my art table, creating. It was my art therapy to coincide with my physical therapy. My creative juices really got flowing which lead to my first published magazine article (coming out in August), sales of my work, posting on my blog again and making new friends.

It changed my career. Although I wonder if you can even call it a career at this later stage in my life? I am now self-employed - happily (see my previous post and my "squirrely" co-workers) and have more free time and less stress and I love the heck out of my boss! What a sweet heart.

The injury was in August 2012. My right arm was basically useless except for being able to draw. I could not lift my arm and I struggled through physical therapy thinking that I would never get the full use of it back. When I was told to try and touch my nose, a simple act, I thought the doctor had to be kidding. No way. But eventually, awkwardly I reported back and touched my nose. So of course he said, now, touch your head. WHA-A-AT? My head? That is not going to happen. I went home, did my own therapy because without health insurance my options were limited. I could not WAIT for the day that I could touch my head and start being allowed to lift any weight. I eventually could touch the top of my head. I still can't do much as far as reaching behind my back or reaching behind. Finally the big day came. Six months later, on Valentine's 2013, I got the best gift ever. I was allowed to start lifting weights! I excitedly asked Dr. Wang, how much. Two pounds. Two pounds????? Only two pounds? Six months and I get to now lift only two pounds. I was deeply discouraged.

When I first injured myself my job situation was my main concern. How in fact, was I going to keep it? Well, I didn't. Friends reassured me that the most important thing was not my job but my recovery - THAT was my new job. They were right. Whatever progress I made in physical therapy was going to be the end result of how my arm would function the rest of my life. I was scared. Losing my job was scary but losing the use of my arm was a lot scarier.

WHAT IS BEHIND THE SCREEN?

Little did I know, but what was behind this screen in the corner of my living room in my townhouse was in fact, my true bliss just sitting there, waiting for me. Who knew?

Other signs of recognizing your true bliss:

You feel totally alive! You feel as if a fog has finally lifted.
Days you follow your bliss start feel Christmas morning, making you want to jump out of bed and see what the day holds.
Time ceases to exist when you follow your bliss.
You feel totally at home within your skin and comfortable within yourself. In my case, also accepting completely my situation and truly living in the moment.

Behind the screen was my HP Velotechnik Gekko FX which weighs 36 pounds. Getting to lift 2 pounds after six months was a far cry from getting to even consider lifting my Gekko (which is a folding trike by the way making it even more amazing) an impossible goal. I was afraid I was going to have to sell it.

All of that changed April 28, 2013 when I participated with my daughter on her new Terra Trike and granddaughter (three generations!) at the Cyclovia event in Tucson. I wanted to ride and I figured my daughter could assist me getting it out of my Rav4. Surprisingly I was able to get it out myself. 36 pounds! Whoo whoo!

From there I started exploring the Loop, miles and miles of multi-use paths throughout Tucson along the river beds.

I met new friends on the Loop to ride with and joined groups and clubs. Here I am on the Rillito path with Diane on her Catrike.

Speaking of clubs, my friend Susan Reed is going to be the guest speaker at the August GABA meeting talking about Across the USA in 30 Days (Or Less)! Monday, August 5, 2013 at 7pm in the Pima County Medical Society building at 5199 E Farness Dr. Check her out. You can attend for free and they have refreshments. Check out her blog: http://bentwanderings.blogspot.com/.

So, I rode and rode some more and can't seem to get enough.

I headed to San Diego for cooler weather and more bike paths. I introduced my dog, Nala, to my trike and we rode around the bay at DeAnza Cove, Mission Bay, San Diego.

I just wanna ride ride ride all day long!

And now..........for the elephant in the room.

As my art therapy I committed to making a "bookmark a day for 365 days". Noah Scanlin encouraged me and featured me on his blog Make Something 365 &; Become Unstuck.

Well, I definitely got unstuck! Am I making a bookmark a day still? No. Do I feel as if I failed? No. Life is fluid and I have learned to go with the flow. I am glad that I made that commitment because everything I did was a stepping stone to today and finding my bliss.

Note: Dr. Wang retired before I did the Cyclovia ride. I will always be grateful for is kindness and encouragement.

Life is like a bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving and it is easier on a trike!