A little over a month ago, I had the one-year anniversary of my heart transplant. I have been reflecting over the last thirteen months and am pleased with how things have gone. I should have added “for the most part”
I am thankful for the opportunity to experience life for another year.
During the last year, I have accomplished a lot:
- Vitals and labs are all good
- Covid-19 vaccines and booster
- Haven’t had a beer or drink in 1.5 years
- Completed COLTT Therapy (Phase 1)
- Completed Cardiac Therapy (Phase 2 & 3)
- Capable of working 40 hours per week (with naps)
- Stayed in touch with good friends.
I got here with a lot of help from my wife, family, and friends. Nobody gets this far without a lot of help. I am looking forward to another 30 years.
There have been some down moments as well.
- My body continues to evolve . Not Going to rehab is a grind. I can’t put it any other way. The grind was worth it. I am continuing to gain strength.
- Covid-19: Though I am vaccinated with both shots and have the booster, I don’t feel comfortable going out or being around people who haven’t been vaccinated. Hopefully, this will improve in the near future.
- The times that I have realized that I am falling back into old habits. The most painful example for me is work. I have and am a workaholic. I don’t deserve the recovering tag yet. I am constantly battling the feeling to work all the time. I sometimes over-commit as well. I enjoy the challenge of work and running my own company. Yet, I need to step away from time to time.
- Continuing rehab. I am not sure rehab is the right term for what I need to do. I need to exercise on a regular basis. Not just activity, but actually intending to do physical activity for a specific period of time to accomplish criteria. The down moment is when I take a break, by choice or necessity, I have a hard time starting again.
The challenges seem minor in the whole scope of things. The one that concerns me the most is being a workaholic. Will I ever conquer being a workaholic? I don’t think so, but I have to figure out how to at least contain it.
I try to remind myself that I am not perfect, but am good enough. I hope I have the strength for another 30 years.
Chris