I’m still learning…

5 years of this whole wellness journey and I’m still learning new things! And boy do I have a story to tell!

Guys, I am literally shocked that this worked. You’d think after 5 years I would know by now but hey….#humbled

And a huge shout out to my hubby who is always there to take care of me when I’m down ❤️ because trust me I look a lot happier than I felt in the moment this picture was taken. Social media truly is a highlight reel.

But here’s what I have to share that recently blew my mind. Over the past month I’ve had steadily growing and worsening back, and there were a few weeks at the beginning of December that were exceptionally difficult. Now there were a number of factors that could have contributed to this. 1.) I used a lot of different muscles I hadn’t exercised in a while when I helped decorate the kids area at church for Christmas, 2.) sitting all day, 3.) girl stuff, or 4.) possible kidney stones.

So when it comes to pain, I’m the type of person that has a “walk it off, tough it out,” mindset. Not the best I know, but it takes a few days or being incapable of moving normally before I will take it seriously. I’m still trying to find the balance of “don’t be a wimp” and “it’s merely a flesh wound.” It took about a week this time to finally give in and address it.

Now, the important side note to this is that I have been on a more natural, holistic wellness journey for 5 years now. So I usually try something within my arsenal of essential oils before I do anything else. But when it comes to pain, I’ve honestly not had much success when it comes to oils. Epsom salt baths and oils were as close as I have come to some form of relief. But all topical applications have had little effect.

When I admitted to my extremely knowledgeable bestie, Sarah, the level of pain I was dealing with, she encouraged me to apply a heat compress to the area after applying oils that we both knew were good for supporting my muscles. And I at first I was like NO WAY! HEAT?!!? Every professional doctor, chiropractor, etc has told me that ice is better for pain and injury.

But many professionals have left out the BENEFITS of heat! If you didn’t know, heat increases blood flow, and blood flow carries those good things like oxygen and nutrients to the affected area and encourages cell metabolism, which promotes healing. And at the same time, blood will carry toxins and crud away from the area so it can be flushed from the system.  And it was this KEY FACT that my friend reminded me of that made me think twice about my misgivings.

So I gave it a try. My husband helped me apply 3 different oils to my back (Wintergreen, Copaiba, and a blend called Dragon Time), while I lay on my stomach so the heat pack could rest there. Then we chilled in bed and watched a movie together.

Later before going to sleep, I got up to do a few nightly routine things. It took a minute before I realized how EASILY I was moving around! I mean, I went from old lady slow to a normal, limber 31 year old again!! I looked at my husband and was like, DID YOU SEE THAT?

It was a moment that legit stopped me in my tracks.

And if you like saving yourself a trip and helping your body do what it was meant to do, I’ll be happy to tell you where to start. It’s a new way of thinking, it will take some learning, but I am positive you will thank yourself later just like I am.

Live well!