Long post alert: Inspired by @SkyyhookRadio sharing her cancer diagnosis & journey allow me to share what's been going on with me. Back in July I came down w/ some symptoms I thought might be #covid19 but weren't, thank God. Around the same time
I took on some more responsibilities at work & started feeling weird adrenaline rushes in my body. It got so bad I thought I was having a heart attack one night. The paramedics who showed up checked me out fully & gently suggested I may be having a panic attack.
I had NEVER had issues with anxiety before so I was surprised. But at the time I was still awaiting my #coronavirus test results so figured, sure, I'm anxious. Makes sense. I was being startled awake at night after vivid dreams, heart racing and freaked out.
My wonderful primary suggested I start taking my blood pressure every morning & make an appointment w/ a cardiologist in addition to prescribing me something to help with the middle of the night terrors.
I also started praying & meditating more, eating better, as well as working out and doing yoga. Good thing too because my blood pressure was high even though I am on meds for hypertension.
My cardiologist ran an EKG last week which was normal, but because of my age, weight, hypertension & family history did an ultrasound of my heart and has me wearing a heart monitor for a few weeks just to be sure.
I don't feel bad, my BP has been great & I haven't had any adrenaline rushes lately, but I all about taking full control of my health right now. I recognize the privilege I have in being able to do so thanks to having the resources.
But there are some things you can do for free to take better care of yourself including walking, meditating, mitigating stress and reading a book, playing music, watching a movie or doing anything else that relaxes you. Take care of your health before you HAVE to.
I'm grateful for all of the things I am doing for my #selfcare because it's helping me show up & flourish in other areas of my life including work. I am determined to have balance and peace.
There are so many things going on right now that we can't control, but there are somethings we can do to make our little piece of it better. #TakeCareOfYou
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June 28 marks the second anniversary of the shooting at the #CapitalGazette in which my friend Rob Hiaasen and four of his colleagues were killed. Compounding the sadness is that this day also is his wife Maria's birthday.
The world lost an incredible man with Rob's passing, but in addition to the love he left behind is his superb writing that we can remember him by. Here's a link to a selection of his feature writing from the Baltimore Sun to celebrate #ReadingRobDaydrive.google.com/file/d/1GnOvgy…
I encourage you to buy his posthumously published novel, "Float Plan," his book of essays, "Love Punch & Other Collected Columns," or the anthology I am blessed to appear with him in, "Baltimore Noir."
Soooooo what do you do when you are sitting near a man in an airport lounge who is complaining that his bonus is ONLY $75k this year? And why can he not feel me hating at the moment?
BTW he's complaining because that was half of last year's. Sir, stop talking.
Now we have gotten to the part where he's debating paying for his girlfriend's plastic surgery because "It's only been a thing for a year, ya know?" Am I being punked?!?