I have been working on building up my strength. I have goals in the future that require me to have more mobility and physical strength than I currently have. the key is, that I have to only do a tiny amount at a time. I’m the sort of person who goes in (and sometimes off) the deep end, I like to push myself, I like to be better, faster, stronger.. and I used to be able to do everything without limits. now I have very strict and rough limits and my body is pretty much at them the whole time. it’s taken me a few years to learn that I can’t just push myself and I can’t just expect the same standards I used to have, strange but true.

Having realized this, I was finally able to start on the baby steps I need to take to increase my range of motion. literally, tiny steps up and down that become the basis for easier use of stairs. finally, at the end of March I was able to surprise my dad for his birthday by walking up to his apartment. I still used my cane and the balustrade and I moved slowly but I managed a flight of stairs. I am now working on making that stronger and more confident.