Things that make me happy:
2. I love love love the taco trucks. I would go so far as to say the best culinary experience in this town is the taco tucks. (It is not a high bar, as this town is full of mediocre chain restaurants.) Shrimp tacos, where have you been all my life? Carnitas fries, git in mah belly! Chimichurri steak over fries, I love you so!
Mexican food in southern California is EXCELLENT. I did not even know that LIKED Mexican food till we moved here.
3. I currently have very little back and neck pain!
I have lived with near constant back and neck pain for ten years now, ever since spraining my neck right before getting married. Sometimes its better and sometimes its worse, but it is always there. About two months ago, my back pain began ratcheting up, until I was at a point where I knew I was going to sprain my neck again soon. When I get to that point I live in fear that each time I reach for a pen or brush my teeth or look to the left I will suddenly be spasming with a new sprain.
No matter how many massages I was getting or how many muscle relaxers I was taking, nothing seemed to work. I wasn't even getting any pain relief, let alone making my back better. I felt like my entire body was cocked to the left. Everything felt out of wack. I felt brittle, like I was waiting to break. Also--weird thing that I've never heard of happening to anyone else--I had a two ribs out of place. One in the front that I could actually feel poking out, and one in the back that was causing a giant knot right under my shoulder.
The Mister has been nagging me to go to a doctor or a chiropractor and get to the root of my problems. However, doctors generally just give me muscle relaxers and tell me to get physical therapy, and I did not feel that I got any benefit out of the last chiropractor I went to, so I dragged my feet.
Finally, feeling that I had nothing to lose with going to a chiropractor, I went to someone the Mister found. AND IT WAS AWESOME. Apparently having a pokey-outey rib will totally screw up your back and pull everything out of wack? The chiro popped it back in, adjusted my back and neck, and in ten minutes my back pain went from an 8 out of 10 to a 2.
I've had some difficult health problems over the past few years, and one of the things I am most thankful for is my health. When I am feeling good, I think about it--I notice it, and I am thankful for it. I don't take it for granted. On days I wake up without pain, I am thankful. And happy.
What are you happy about today?
Oh Lisa, how I wish I had known! I am a believer in Chiropractic! I was about to have back surgery 3 years ago from severe herniated discs ... then I went to my C. I have been virtually pain free for 3 years ... I do go in for maintenance (sounds like my car!) every 3 months. Keep at it!! By the way, New England has horrible Mexican food! I miss what I used to eat in Southern California!! Enjoy! xo
ReplyDeleteLisa, Im so glad you found some pain relief, in a natural way, too! awesome. I hope you continue to feel better. Shrimp tacos are my favorite, or fish. I wish I had a taco truck near me!
ReplyDeleteNancy
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I LOVE Mexican food and I LOVE chiropractors!
ReplyDeleteTotally hear you on the appreciation of good health- nothing beats it! and since the birth of my son 3+ years ago- I have had on/off back issues- I SWEAR by the chiro. Last time my back was out I was in serious pain- like crying from exhaustion (and I it takes a lot to affect me)- went to the chiro- better by the end of the day- AMAZING! So glad you are feeling better!!
ReplyDeleteI've always been nervous about chiropractors but that's awesome that it helped. Oh taco trucks, how I miss you. No one on the east coast understands when I tell them that mexican food here sucks. Validation at last!
ReplyDeleteI loooooooooooooooooooooooove massages, but my chiropractor works wonders as well. I go to a guy right by South Coast Plaza who specializes in treating athletes [runners mostly] but also just regular people too. He's made my neck/shoulder pain stay away for far longer periods of time!
ReplyDeleteI'm so so glad that your pain is doing better! Pain can really suck the joy out of life! It's funny, everyone always complains about how Pinterest makes them have unrealistic life expectations... but I saw some quote on Pinterest about NOTICING when you're happy and paying attention to that... and that line of thinking has really improved my life over the past few months.
ReplyDeleteToday? It makes me happy that my daughter has started giving us these ridiculous open-mouthed ear-to-ear grins when we walk in to get her from her naps. Heaven! :)
Holy. Crow. That chimmichurri over fries looks amazing. Like I want to pixelate myself and reach through the computer and eat it off the screen. Y.U.M.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I am happy about today (better late than never): that my pie party was great. That the pies I made were AWESOME (chocolate pudding, peach, leek/mushroom/bacon quiche). And that my husband is home after 30 days of being gone. That it is a 3 day weekend. Let the fun commence!
so glad you aren't in pain. I wish I had one of those taco trucks right about now.
ReplyDeletekaren c