Ever have one of those days when you feel like a stuffed sausage? Like someone poured the essence of you into your skin...and then added another half dose for good measure? I've been feeling like that for over a month, everyday feeling a little more like a visitor in my own body. Today, sitting in a meeting, I looked down and saw the ring finger on my right hand turning red. My hands had swollen up during the course of the day and my ring, which fit fine this morning, was cutting off my circulation. With a little spit and no shortage of effort, I forced over my knuckle and into the palm of my hand. Afterward, I told my sales rep about it. He looked at my hands and said, "You must be retaining water."
Though I'd heard people say that many times in the past, even said it myself a few times, today it struck me as funny. Isn't retaining water a good thing? I mean, if we are 70% water, isn't water retention exactly what our body is supposed to do? Otherwise, we might spill two thirds of ourselves out onto the ground, with the last third collapsing like a deflated balloon.
I knew what he meant, though, and as I wrapped up my day I had to admit I was feeling a little (dare I say it) bloated. I knew why, too. It has been two months of almost non-stop stress at work. And it's been months since I stepped in a gym...and, Lord knows, I'm getting too (dare I say it) old to expect to stay in shape by playing softball once a week and swinging a pickax on Saturdays. Especially when the candy jars at work seem to be much more persuasive these days.
So, I came home pondering my increasingly old, fat ass. I was only slightly comforted by the fact that my bloated-ness was due, in some part, to me being an excellent water retainer (everyone likes to be talented). However, as I walked the garden, checking to make sure my plants were similarly gifted with retention skills, the creek caught my gaze. Yes, I have a creek. I built it from scratch. Dug a 70 foot ditch and a six foot long, 3 foot wide and 3 foot deep pond, all by myself. Put in a ton of rocks. In the heat of the summer. I haven't written about it much. Or posted pictures. You know why? Because, unlike me, my creek SUCKS at retaining water. I've been waiting for it to work perfectly before I brag about it...so far that's not working out so well.
Truth is, I know exactly what's wrong with it, exactly where it's losing water...but to fix it, I'll have to tear up a section and do it over, and just the thought of it makes me tired.
So there it is. Me retaining water. My creek losing it. I have a pretty good idea how to fix both, but I don't do it. Why? Because I can't stomach the hard work? Uh-uh. That's not gonna fly, boy.
My first post about my creek is about how it doesn't work. You better do something about that...and while you're at it, get your water logged ass to the gym.
Comments