Rediscovering joy

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I'm still here, and I'm back on Facebook...

I'm just as shocked as you are

The sabbatical was definitely needed, and I have learned a number of lessons about reducing stressors in my life. I may even be starting to get a handle on a few. In the meantime, I've been busy.

  • Busy working. I've had my contract extended for a while longer. There's been a fair bit happening, but I'm starting to revel in the role as an up and coming junior nurse while furiously attempting to make myself indispensable to the ward. There's lots of training over the next six months, and even a week long respiratory conference at SCGH during May. Perth frens, we should hang out. If I have any free time at all. I promise I will parkrun somewhere in the the Perth metro area. Location TBA. 
Does this mean you're back running again? Well, yes I am. In a sense.

When I pulled the pin on Facebook, I was suffering from an unknown knee injury. I'm quite certain this contributed to my poor mental state, and consequently I pretty much just stopped running. I was parkrunning sporadically, but no trails, long runs and certainly no enjoyment. 2018 ground to a halt with 439km cumulative total distance clocked up. My headspace was up and down like a yo-yo;  manic episodes hit and left me dazed and wiped out each time. I was considering packing in running for good, as the knee just wouldn't stop hurting. In the end, I dusted Tyrone the Merida off from where he had been stored and started riding a bit after the start of the new year, which helped. The bants in my local bike store managed to drag my head out of my backside and just relax. Thanks Stu *two fingers*. As did my long suffering wife. She's pushed me to shed baggage and just to exist with no expectations from myself or others. Which leads me to the week just gone...
  •  The Delirious West 200 miler kicks off Wednesday. The course needed to be flagged, DPAW needed to be met with and I needed to step up. So I strapped on the UD vest, mixed up some Trail Brew and got out there.
West Cape Howe in the distance. Some idiot in the foreground
Over the last week I've covered 83.9km, flagging out from the Nullaki Peninsula to the finish line at Limeburners distillery. With a lazy parkrun thrown in there as well.
Is that happiness on the horizon?

It's not been fast, but it's been challenging and therapeutic. My wife commented on a Facebook post that: "... He's been happy and forgotten all about the bendy thing in the middle of his leg"  
Love this woman, she knows how to cut to the heart of an issue.

So I'm kinda back on track (pun intended). I'm hoping for a while. I'm not 100% fit, but that doesn't matter at this point in time. Let's just enjoy the journey for as long as it lasts.

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