Out of Hiding

Remember the last time I hinted about my knee? That Monday it took a turn for the worst and I experienced something I never could have imagined: pain so bad I could barely walk.

And was promptly taken off of work.

I'm not going to lie, the last two weeks have been a roller coaster. I didn't know how to express what I've been going through. I didn't know what to say, how to say it, how to believe in myself.

It's only now that I'm on the mend that I am properly able to convey my emotional pain. The inability to walk (although temporarily) cut me down a few and the fact that I wasn't working exacerbated my crumbling self-confidence. The physical pain was (is) certainly still a factor and also didn't help things, but once that was an afterthought -- about 3-4 days now -- the real healing began.

I want to quell any concerns about my knee. It needs NO SURGERY  (yay!) and all that happened was that I damaged the cartilage under my knee cap. Physical therapy has been a God-send and just today I was promoted from crutches to a cane!

Me, at 25.
Original found at: http://dreamstime.com/

It's been a journey so far and it's not over yet. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but I am grateful for the experience. It taught me to be more patient, to really take care of myself and listen to my body.

Even if that means using a flipping cane when I walk.


Happy Healing,

Senator

Book Review: Kundalini Meditation: The Path to Personal Transformation and Creativity

Summary (from Goodreads): Kundalini meditation unleashes the life force that exists in us all, allowing it to flow through each of the seven chakras. It's a hot trend that awakens our inspiration and insight; allays destructive anxieties and doubts; and helps us feel at one with the divine. This enlightening guide shows, in guided stages, how to become aware of the energy channels running along the spinal cord and which purification rituals, poses, positions, and breathing exercises open you up. Special guided meditations target common problems such as depression and anger.


Review: A thorough and easy introduction into Kundalini meditation, Kathryn McCuster has created a stellar book. The origin and history of Kundalini is included, broken up by pictures to avoid being dull. Informative and well written, “Kundalini Meditation” is perfect for the novice wanting to begin or expand their daily practice. Highly recommended!

Thank you Watkins Publishing Limited and NetGalley for an e-ARC. 

Formats: e-book, paperback

Livnam Kaur Recommends:

Livnam Kaur is a spiritual intuitive, Reiki and IET® master teacher, IKYTA Kundalini yoga teacher, and Ayurveda Wellness Practitioner. She focuses on empowering individuals through the process of spiritual counseling. This counseling opens up the channels of spiritual communication, guiding a person to turn within and partner with Spirit to find their highest healing path.

Review: The Storyteller's Daughter

Summary (from Goodreads): In a faraway kingdom, a king has been betrayed. Deeply hurt and bitterly angry, he vows never to be deceived again. Unfortunately, the king's plan to protect himself will endanger all of the realm's young women, unless one of them will volunteer to marry the king — and surrender her life.


To everyone's relief and horror, one young woman steps forward. The daughter of a legendary storyteller, Shahrazad believes it is her destiny to accept this risk and sacrifice herself.


On the night of her wedding to the king, Shahrazad begins to weave a tale. Fascinated, the king lets her live night after night. Just when Shahrazad dares to believe that she has found a way to keep her life — and an unexpected love — a treacherous plot will disrupt her plan. Now she can only hope that love is strong enough to save her.

Review: My favorite of the Once Upon a Time series, Dokey weaves many tales into one main story creating a highly enjoyable experience for readers. Told in an old style narrative, readers are instantly enchanted by the first line all the way to the last. A quick, easy read The Storyteller's Daughter is perfect for those who like the "happily ever after" with more to characters than meets the eye.


Formats: e-book, mass market, library binding

Senator Recommends:

Review: Unremembered (#1)

Summary (from Goodreads): The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe. 

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them. 

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

Review: Unremembered is one of those books that will knock you on your butt, in the best possible ways. Brody has stepped out of her normal contemporary novels to create a sci-fi gem. Readers will be enthralled as they go, each chapter adding and revealing another layer. Enthralling, with a dash of romance Unremembered is a must read for 2013!


Formats: e-book, hardcover

Senator Recommends:

Weekly Round-Up #8

2/25/13-3/3/13

The weeks bleed from one to the next, it feels. I can't tell one day to the next lately, but I'm getting through. I've been pushing myself pretty far and now that I got my knee injury my body is trying to tell me to slow down, to go easy on myself. Still, I push... Old habits are hard to break, I suppose.


Days Without Meat
0 -- I ate chicken in a moment of hunger and weakness. I nearly threw it up. Lesson learned. 

Weeks of Consistant Running
6 -- Do I keep this number or should I start over once I've healed? 


Days Meditating
5

Miles Walked / Run
Due to my injury, I am unable to run or walk for exercise. 


TOTAL = 0 MILES                                              TOTAL FOR YEAR = 23.91 MILES


Book(s) Read

The Perfect Power Within You by Jack & Cornelia Addington (Still reading, this one is for an 8 week class. Yippie!)

Unbroken (#2) by Paula Morris (read, review to come. Thank you Scholastic and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.)

Married by Mistake by Abby Gaines (read, review to come)

The Nightmare Affair (#1) by Mindee Arnett (thoroughly enjoyed and read, review to come. Thank you Tor/Forge and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC.)

Kundalini Meditation: The Path to Personal Transformation and Creativity by Kathryn McCusker (read, review to come. Thank you Watkins Publishing Limited and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.)

The Lost Husband: A Novel by Katherine Center  (still reading. Thank you Random House Publishing House and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.)

Happy Living,

Senator

Knee Sprain

Well, I suppose it was inevitable, but I've sprained my knee this past Wednesday. It is minor and is my first "major" injury of my life. While it might be minor, knee sprains can physically and psychologically trip you up. Here are a few things I've learned in the past four days.

1. R.I.C.E is Your Friend: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation are all VITAL for a speedy recovery. They might be annoying, but they help so so much. For more detailed  information on R.I.C.E please click here. 
2. Your Whole Body Might Get Sore: This one was a major surprise to me, but in retrospect it makes sense. It might happen right away, or after the shock has worn off. For me, it happened exactly 24 hours after the incident had occurred and nearly knocked me on my ass. Take care of yourself, this is just an indication that your body is healing. Give it rest. 
3. It's OK to Cry -- or Not: This may or may not happen to you. 36 hours after the incident occurred, my body began to be overstimulated, and easily taxed. Since I'm normally a pretty tough chick when it come to physical ailments (and promptly pushed myself to the limit, dummy), my body chose to release all that extra energy through crying. Hooray! Ride it out, it'll pass quickly -- I promise. 
4. Anti-Inflammatory Medication is also Your Friend: Now, I know some of you out there are anti-medication and while I'm with you most times, ibuprofen saved my behind on this one. It's not just a "pain reliever" in this case. It really does help the swelling go down. Side perk, the pain does go away and you can walk...ish.
5. Test Yourself, but Don't Push It: You're feeling good, you can kind of walk again and so you try to walk with full (normal) pressure on the affected leg. A few strides, no problem, so you go further. OK, a little pain, no biggie -- a few more steps. Then.. HOLY MOTHER OF POTATO PIE! Suddenly you're hobbling back to the nearest seat. Listen to those little pains, and stay in tune to your body. It's natural to test yourself when you're feeling better, but you could severely re-injure yourself in the process. Tred carefully. You'll heal. 

That's all I've got for now, but Monday the doctor tells me whether or not I have to do physical therapy or not. I'm PRO physical therapy, because those people are miracle workers when it comes to future preventative care. 

Happy Healing, 

Senator