What I'm Learning (March 2022)

2 year anniversary of covid- what isn't in the news or really discussed publicly:

• I have had at least 2 young female patients hospitalized with multiple pulmonary embolisms [emboli] (blood clots in lungs) after / during a covid infection while also being on birth control pills.  They are now on blood thinners twice a day for a provider-determined, patient-specific length of time.
  • ​covid causes blood clots
    
  • hormone replacement therapy and/or oral contraceptives can potentially cause blood clots
    
  • we are learning that combo can be dangerous!
    
• Covid disrupts menstrual cycles.  Mostly I see heavy bleeding after both infection or vaccine, but I have had a few patients miss a period during or after a covid infection or vaccine.
• I still have several patients with long covid symptoms such as: 
  • brain fog
  • tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
  • neuropathy (numbness in tingling usually in legs / feet or arms / hands
  • residual loss of taste, smell, or both
  • fatigue and loss of stamina
  • depression, anxiety, and PTSD especially if they themselves were hospitalized or intubated or if they lost a close family member or friend to covid
    

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What is working?

• Sleep.  The more sleep I seem to get, the better human I tend to be.  
• Clothes.  I've been sticking to my only goal for 2022 and it really does make me feel better!
• Singing:  I started Smule in Nov 2021 and I've recorded 467 songs 👀.
  • Why I love it: 
    • I don't know a single person on the app.
    • I've never seen a negative comment left by anyone EVER.
    • It's good for my lungs and they need it!
    • It's like free singing lessons.  I only do one take on each song which means some of them are pretty lousy but I post them anyway, because WE RARELY GET THINGS RIGHT ON THE FIRST TRY.  I want my kids to see me flop so they'll know it's okay to flop!  I'm really honestly getting better and that's cool to watch (or 🎧 rather).  I haven't been in school or gone to a regular practice of any kind since I started Zumba (don't hate- it's HARD and will work your tail off if you've never done it) back in 2014.  This reminds me of that feeling I used to have back in Zumba class.  I didn't get all the steps right (and those that know me know I can dance), but I put myself out there.  And as most of you have probably learned in any new or challenging endeavor - the other people in the class / hobby / app were once NEW also and good, kind humans will encourage and accept you!
• Writing:  over 100 posts are up, y'all!  And that is just since July 2021.  I have met some cool, new friends (are we friends?), and I feel nudged to keep going.  THANK YOU so much for your support and encouragement.  It means so much!  I love hearing from you!!!

What is not working?

• My closet.  I hate our master closet and that's my next big project for Hubby.  Send me all your amazing closet pics STAT.  I don't really know where to begin.  I know I want to maximize the space (especially vertical- we have high ceilings) and ditch the wire racks.
  • ​I really, really, really, really need to purge 2/3 of my clothes.  
    
    • ​If you have successfully done that, please tell me all the ways you did so!!!  Don't say joy-sparking because clothes and planners are my hoarding categories.
      
• My lack of consistent exercise.  
  • Being unable to walk comfortably from 11/1/21-1/18/22 was difficult to say the least.  I am not used to sitting still or being limited in my mobility.  It is humbling for sure.  I have another level of empathy for ANYONE dealing with physical limitations.
  • Now that I am cleared by my knee surgeon to resume low-impact exercise, I've got to get back on the bandwagon.  Message me if you are also struggling and want to start an accountability group or thread somehow.  I like groups like that!  We can do our own workouts and just check-in or hold each other accountable.
• Not reading.
  • The past 3 months have felt so CRAZY BUSY that my commutes have often been spent either in silence or venting to friends and family.
  • I'm sure that my 467 Smule recordings have also curtailed my reading, but I need to find a happy balance.  
  • Singing helps me get emotions OUT of my body while reading helps get my creative juices flowing AND it helps me identify my emotions.
  • Please send all your book recommendations!  I don't do cheesy romance or sci-fi usually.  I like both fiction and nonfiction.  I prefer a good historical fiction over a chic lit unless I'm at the beach.  I'm interested in reading more YA as the few I have read have been so awesome!  Here is an example of what I have read so you might get an idea of what I like.

What's next?  What do I want more of?

• Girls Nights!  Lunch dates (although not that many because...)
  • I was able to squeeze ONE girls night in during this last quarter and it was fantastic!  
• Date Nights
  • We usually try for at least once a month, but Omicron... now baseball... but we must keep trying!
  • Marriage is hard and date nights help me stay married.  #truth
• Professional Development and Career Growth
  • I've focused so much on personal development the past 2 years (much needed.  highly recommend), but I think I'm ready to pursue some career goals!
  • This is both exciting and unnerving.  I've been in the same job for almost 15 years, so change would be a big deal.  
  • I am feeling stifled and stagnant and yearn for more.  I feel like I have all this expertise and ideas are bubbling inside of me. I'm like a champagne bottle about to POP.  Celebration sounds GOOD!!!  I am ready to share my knowledge and affect change!  

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Okay, so what does my list of "stuff" have to do with you?

It's meant to be a guide or a tool for you to
do your own quarterly review.

What is working?

What is not working?

What do you want more of?  Or less of?

​What have you learned in the last 3 months?

I encourage you to take a few moments to yourself in one of those cracks of time
we all barely get these days.  Write it down.  Type it in your phone notes.  Say it out loud if you 
want to do that.  But give it some THOUGHT.  Consistent quarterly reviews or seasonal reflections
can be life-giving and increase your productivity, contentment, and enthusiasm for what lies before you!

Godspeed.  ❤️

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