I’m still recovering from a back issue I had a couple weeks ago. A recurring piece of advice people keep giving me is: Don’t overdo it!
When I hear this phrase, my brain translates it to:
No bungee jumping!
No big hikes!
No running around just for the heck of it!
And I’m not doing any of those things, so I just smile and nod and say “I’m not!”
It’s kind of like the warning label on the back of some bottles, warning you not to operate heavy machinery if you’re taking that medicine. And you think to yourself, I don’t even have a CDL! I wouldn’t know how to drive an 18-wheeler if my life depended on it! And then you realize they’re probably just trying to tell you not to drive your car.
It’s kind of like that.
I’m beginning to realize that when someone says don’t overdo it, what they really mean is:
Stop acting like nothing happened.
Give yourself permission to slow down, to need help.
Don’t lift things – even if it’s just a laundry basket – if it hurts your back or maybe even your pride because you think you should be able to do such simple things.
I feel impatient with my body, like “Hey, get over it – we have stuff to do!” And then I lay down to rest around 7 in the evening (just a short nap) and end up sleeping all night because that’s my body’s tricky way of telling me I probably did too much that day and it’s going to MAKE me rest. Sigh.
Even when getting back to “normal” feels slow, and my body is recovering (not as quickly) as I’d hoped, I’m still thankful for it. This is the vessel that allows me to walk through life, to see and taste and smell and listen and this is the voice I get to use to encourage and love people with. The hands that craft the pies and the embroidery and the words on this screen.
So if your body is rebellious sometimes (like mine) just remember the advice “Don’t overdo it!” has nothing to do with skydiving or snowboarding in the Alps. It just means be patient with the process of recovery. The people around you love you whether you’re being “productive” or not.
Mekeisha Smith, Writer 