What Works (and not) in this Season

Sometimes you have things pretty well figured out - you know what feels good to your mind and body and are able to stay pretty healthy.... and then somebody changes the rules of the game on you. Maybe you get laid off or your work changes; maybe the seasons or weather change, and your coping strategies no longer make sense for your environment; maybe your kids are in a new phase and refuse to allow the space you used to hold for self-care. For me, it's an injury that keeps me away from some of the activities I love, which help keep me grounded and healthy. 

When the rules change, I find it helpful to make four lists:

• What's off the table right now? Mourn the loss.
• What still works for me despite the changes? Double down.
• What could work if I tweaked it a little? Get creative.
• What's something new I could experiment with adding? Try it out.

For me, no ACL means no skiing of any type and no mountain biking. This is a big loss. However, I can still ride my bike on stable, predictable surfaces, and I can do yoga, weightlifting, and dog walking if I'm careful about how I move my body. Journaling and knitting are big yesses I can lean into. And I'm experimenting with making sure I have one thing each day that I look forward to. 

Today I took my mountain bike out for an easy spin on a paved bike path. Part of me missed being out on dirt, and it's important that I recognize that loss. And, also, the sun felt good, and my body felt ok. And that's enough of a win for now.

When the rules have changed on you, and the things you used to do to de-stress or cope are no longer accessible, what experiments or changes have worked for you? Bonus points for something new I could try out that's knee-friendly!