Feeling older than usual

I'm as excited as all get out to be almost 50 years old, but I have to admit, I'm feeling older than usual the last day or two.  I've had various types of chronic pain to deal with over the course of my 49 years, but of late I have been bothered in particular by two things -- back pain and foot pain.

The back pain isn't often bad, though it is limiting at times, and it does trouble me at night with stiffness -- and it always improves after I walk.  The foot pain is getting worse, and is related to plantar fasciitis (it's the heel that is hurting, for the most part).  It also troubles me at night -- and feels worse after I walk.

So I have a dilemma, you see.  Do I walk so my back won't hurt, but my foot will?  Or do I sit so my foot can recover, and my back will get stiff?  Decisions, decisions!  :-D

I am currently sitting with a hot pad at my back and a cold pack on my foot.  Feels nice!  I am thinking that the best thing to do here is to do what it takes to heal the foot -- which can happen if I take proper precautions and restorative measures -- and then I can go back to my regular activities.  In the meantime, I'll have to find other ways to stretch and exercise my back that don't involve a lot of stress to the foot.  I have to get in good shape so I can go camping this summer in the great outdoors, not just in the living room.  ;-)

Thanks to those of you who have prayed for my back pain, I really have been sleeping better and less stiffly of late, so that helps immensely with my general outlook on life!

I couldn't find a cheerful poem for verse Thursday that dealt with pain or sore feet, so instead, here is a lovely one I found while researching the poetry of writers from Wisconsin:

( This Trackless Void )

That helps put my wee bit of pain into perspective a bit!

May each of you find some transforming shade today that will sooth, hearten and encourage you!