Oops. I feel bad for neglecting this blog. Time has not been on my side. Like at all.
This summer alone, I had a full-time remote internship, a remote class, and I studied solo for a big, important ethics exam that I need to pass in order to sit for the New York State bar in July 2025 (eep!). Talk about being busy! I guess I still have no idea what “taking a break” means. Oh well, here’s hoping it’ll pay off.
Update: I wrote that first paragraph a while ago. Guess what? It did pay off! I passed that ethics exam! Let’s goooooo!
Moving on. I want to talk about staying active and fitness. I have been feeling unsatisfied with my fitness journey and progress. Unfortunately, it shows. Recently, I made a pledge to myself to do at least ten minutes of physical activity every day – which is on the low side… but you’ve got to start somewhere, right? My summer legal internship was remote, which meant I was mostly sedentary. Not good. I started using the bike in my apartment more often. Still, I felt it wasn’t enough physical activity. I have to work three times harder than someone who’s non-disabled. To me, that means more physical activity.
Although I’ve been feeling frustrated, I just bought a smart watch. I really think it’ll help with my fitness journey. For starters, I find it’s way more accurate in tracking my movements, whether it’s walking, using my bike, standing…the list goes on. Take today, for example. I took the disgraceful subway to school (ok, I hate the subway. Really. Truly. Just so tired of it). I told my watch that I was on an “outdoor walk.” Definitely the right move. Technically, the subway I take to school is above ground, so I’m walking outdoors. And anyway, even if that wasn’t a suitable rationale, I don’t care. I don’t care because walking with my crutches is a full body exercise for me. It really is. I use up a ton of energy to walk. If you didn’t already know that, now you do. Congratulations. The watch timed my “outdoor walk,” tracked my pace and monitored my heart rate… yikes! It went up pretty high…told you, I use up energy walking! Got my heart pumping. By the time I made it to school, I was sweating through my freakin’ t-shirt. Oh, and my knees were pretty angry. Getting older sucks. Especially getting older with CP. I mean, it’s a blessing too….but it can be rough out here. I suppose my knees are feeling the wear and tear from all the ups and downs through the years. Sigh. Not fun. Not fun at all. Sorry, knees. Please direct your anger to the inaccessible New York City subway system. Oh, and tell them to get that elevator I like to use at the Court Square station back in service already. Thanks. Thanks very much.
Moral of the story: I love my new watch. It motivates me to move more. My “move goal” was set to 100 calories/day. Before I had a watch, I barely met that goal. Today? I smashed it, going over four times that amount. I might have to think about changing that daily goal soon. Woo!
Another cause for celebration is that I’m in the process of starting adapted pilates. I’m over strength training. Not saying it’s not useful or beneficial. I’m just over it and ready to try something different. Adapted or not, pilates is probably going to kick my butt – but at least it’s a good thing and an investment in my physical health and overall wellbeing.
Starting pilates soon has me thinking back to when I was a kid, resisting pilates and physical therapy with my witty comments (if I do say so myself) and creative attempts to get out of exercising. …Yeah, they didn’t work. I thought I was clever – well, my physical therapists were way ahead of me in that arena. In fact, the best ones made physical therapy and pilates fun. You know, like, “sit on this huge exercise ball, work on your core while we play Uno,” or something. You get what I mean. Throw some games in there. Otherwise you’re just…stretching or whatever. How boring. Bring games back into physical therapy! Ha. That got animated.
Here’s hoping my new pilates instructor makes things worthwhile. Let me tell you, I wrote the book on those creative “exercise escape” attempts. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. It’s probably a bad thing. Might’ve been because back then kids my age didn’t have to do physical therapy. They got to go on play dates or play soccer or softball. Is that bitter? My bad. I just get so bored easily, especially with stretching. Ugh. Plus, it’s difficult for me to stretch independently. Which is not an excuse. It’s a reason.
Second moral of the story: Cerebral palsy can be tough. While it’s not technically a progressive condition, that wear and tear that I was talking about earlier? I’ve read it can get worse with age. Hooray. Not to mention, I work three times harder physically but oftentimes feel like I don’t make as much progress as everyone else. It’s incredibly frustrating. Isolating too. Still though, I try to look on the bright side. Mostly for my own sake. Ultimately, my daily life with CP isn’t so bad. Really. Truly. Hold onto those wins.
The Spastic Diplege 