Dear Ones,
Today I am joining my friend Rebecca for Thankful Thursday, 09.2019 and my friend Penny for Thinking Out Loud Thursday and linking up with Sylvia for her Gathering of Friends. Combining the 2 themes into one post about naps. Yup, you read that right. Thankful for and thinking out loud about naps.
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Thinking Out Loud About Naps
Over the past month or so, I have been going to the physical therapist for a pain in my right leg that is probably related to or caused by sciatica. But I haven’t been given a definitive diagnosis. That’s how I am being treated, though. The hour-long sessions consist of treatment with a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device (similar, similar) that stimulates the muscles in my hip and lower back. Followed by an ultrasound wand massage across my back and hip, and concluding with about 20 minutes of stretches. First mentioned this earlier on my Wellness Wednesday post, here.
I am happy to report therapy has worked and my leg is better. Still have 6 more sessions over the next 3 weeks so hoping to be ‘good as new’ by mid-October. But relief from my leg pain is not the only thing my physical therapy has given me. In addition, I have been reminded of the therapeutic benefit of naps.
I can hardly wait for the physical therapy tech to get the TENS unit plugged in, to tuck pillows all around me, elevate my lower legs on a stool at a 90* angle, turn off the lights and shut the door!!
The first few minutes, I usually say/think a little prayer of gratitude for the therapy, the therapists, the insurance, the healing, and the naps. And then I drift off…not completely to sleep but into a dreamy, totally relaxed state. When the technician returns, I always groan in wordless complaint and she gives me 5 more minutes.
This little refuge have been such a blessing in the middle of my day. And apparently there is scientific data that indicates that naps really are beneficial to us. This article explains the benefits of napping and this one offers directions for enjoying the perfect nap. Tips for the perfect nap outside of a physical therapist’s office, that is.
Napping on the Next Level
After about 3 PT sessions where I was practically begging to be forgotten indefinitely in the little exam room, it occurred to me that I have a bed, pillows and a little stool for my legs at home. Heck, I have even given PC a TENS unit. I could replicate these delicious almost-naps in the comfort of mi casa. So that is what I have begun to do.
Coincidentally (not), my Bible study yesterday talked about keeping the Sabbath in order to find joy in God. Apparently the word “Sabbath” comes from the Hebrew verb shabbat, meaning “to rest from labor”; the day of rest. Readers were referred to Isaiah 58:13-14.
Isaiah 58:13-14 Common English Bible (CEB)
13 If you stop trampling the Sabbath,
stop doing whatever you want on my holy day,
and consider the Sabbath a delight,
sacred to the Lord, honored,
and honor it instead of doing things your way,
seeking what you want and doing business as usual,
14 then you will take delight in the Lord.
I will let you ride on the heights of the earth;
I will sustain you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
So, I have decided to try something new, a kind of mini-Sabbath or shabbat, Monday-Friday. Whenever possible, I am going to take 30 minutes to recharge with prayer, and a cat nap. Will use this time to pause in my day to take stock of all I have to be thankful for and then give myself a little down time to refocus and re-energize. Might even light a candle, turn my sound machine onto the ocean or rain setting, and spritz my pillows (all of them) with linen spray, sandalwood and patchouli or Mandarin orange? Oh, and put my legs up on a stool, of course, too.
Thankful Thursday
This month, as in all months, I have so much to be thankful for. Here’s just a small sampling.
- message at church
- Paul repaired Lauren’s sprinkler system for $6 when the yard guy was going to charge $300
- no cavities
- my dad’s influence in my life even 7 years after his death
- normal ultrasound of our baby girl Camila
- the patriots who responded on 9.11
- my brother’s sense of patriotism
- rain
- Lauren’s hug
- Paul AKA Prince Charming, PC
- Mustafa’s amazing 95 on his MRI certification test
- reading and laughing with Brennyn and Cady via Skype
- my mom sounds good
- Stephanie (20 year old cancer survivor and lung transplant recipient) is no longer in pain
- sleeping late
- accomplishing much around the house with PC
So blessed.
Your Turn
Do you nap? Is there something you do in your daily routine to recharge, refocus? My mom was always a napper. In fact, she was telling me today that she started when my baby sister was born. In order to have a little time to herself, she would put Valerie in her crib and then lie down with me for a few minutes til I fell asleep. Then, mom would jump up and ‘tear the bone out’ trying to get things done while we slept.
What blessings are you most grateful for this month?
PC is at baseball practice. I am going to paint some rocks or work on my mosaic!!
Hugs and kisses,
Gratitude is contagious. Thank you for passing this on!
Thank you!!
Love your idea to try to nap each day! We have meditation at work for 20 minutes on Wednesday afternoons and most of the time I fall asleep. Several of my friends do too! Best 20 minutes in the whole week! lol
How wonderful to have meditation at work!! That would be almost as good as a nap. I remember being so sick with a high fever years ago at work that I fell asleep. Was dreaming and everything. Worked for a really crotchety librarian so it is a wonder I didn’t lose my job!
Never underestimate the power of a short ‘Nana nap’ in the afternoon or early evening! I think the Spanish had the right idea when everything closed after lunch for ‘siesta’ time.
So pleased to hear that baby Camila is growing nicely – how exciting!
Yes, in Panama they had a siesta every weekday afternoon where the stores closed up, the kids went home from school and everything. Sign me up!!
We observe the Jewish sabbath on Saturdays, and in fact, I normally take a nap! I don’t take them any other day, but on that day it just is necessary!
Atta girl!!
My daddy being gone just a year & a half, I can feel his presence & influence in my life even more. I guess its because you have to rely on all that they taught you when they’re gone.
So thankful with you that your pain is getting better. I need to dig out my TENS unit – those things make a huge difference!!!
… & I’m ready for a nap now too…I’ve had a lot of prompting & stumbling into God’s Word on Sabbath too. I think its something this world totally pushes aside. I’m ready for some Rest in Jesus!!!! 🙂
I am so glad you mention feeling your father’s presence. I certainly feel mine and he has been gone for 7 years.
Cannot find our TENS unit. Thinking I may need to buy a new one so I can continue this helpful therapy at home once my authorized physical therapy sessions are exhausted. Had another treatment today and have another scheduled tomorrow. Going to savor them while they last.
I take two naps a day. They are the BEST part of my day. Because we have a dog, I have to get up early to let her out, feed her etc. and that’s somewhere between 4am and 5 am. I have a cup of coffee then. But by 6am I am back asleep, taking a nap. That’s what I call it. I nap till 10:30am. If I don’t do this, I can’t function.
Next nap is at 3:30 in the afternoon. All my errands, work etc are done. I nap on the most perfect settee, with an electric couch-size blanket, which fits perfectly over me as I snuggle under the cover. I usually play some sleep music I glean off of Spotify. It’s more like a sound equalizer. Anyway, I’m up by 5PM and then I start dinner. Bedtime is midnight.
If I don’t follow this routine, I can’t function. I need my naps.
Girl, I like your routine!! First, I just like any routine but a two-nap-a-day routine sounds divine. I am looking at teaching English online which would require me to teach in the middle of the night. I think I will definitely need a nap if I sign up for that.
My therapist does something similar sometimes – it’s like a pulsing, with cold water flowing around it, and it feels amazing and I just want to sleep. LOL I’m glad your PT is going well though!! Naps are fantastic. I love them.
-Lauren
Glad I am not the only nap fan. Interesting to hear about your therapist’s water treatment. Sounds delightful. I like listening to a sound machine with an ocean or rain setting. I am feeling much better, thank you!
Yes to the naps. Especially since having kids. This summer I took full advantage of the naps with Logan. He always asked me to lie down with him and I was so happy to indulge. They are even better if it’s warm out and you can find some sun to rest in.
Hi sweet friend! Hope you are getting some naps in with Nash and Logan these days. I remember during the hottest summer on record in El Paso, I would come home from working summer school, strip off and lay on the bed underneath the ceiling fan. The girls were at their dad’s for a visit so I could do so without worry. Those were some good naps.
Good to hear therapy is helping your pain. I have a tens unit and it really helps! It’s portable and can be worn if I’m up and about and depending on what part of my body needs attention. Of course I’m not knocking a quick nap as I nap when on my massage lounge chair. Can’t help drifting off as it’s so relaxing and I usually have an essential oil misting close by.
Glad you have the massage chair to help make you more comfortable and ease you into nap time. I love essential oils, too. What is your favorite oil or oil blend?
Let’s see, probably lavender 🙂
I like lavender, too. And patchouli. And tea tree.
Oh yes, can’t forget tea tree!!
Ha!!
I’m sorry to hear about your pain but I’m glad therapy makes it better. No, I’m not much of a napper. I do nap occasionally though.
I went back to PT today but they had the radio on and it interfered with my relaxation!! If I nap just 20 minutes or so, I am like a new woman. Any more than that, though, and I don’t want to wake up.
Hi Leslie,
You had me at nap…
I wish I could forgive myself for wanting a nap at times; my puritan upbringing (that niggling voice in the back of my head) is still insisting that it is a waste of time. Yet we know – and you’ve rightly pointed out – it is a helpful practice for mind and body wellness.
Sometimes my bod just insists on a nap…
I have been back to physical therapy twice this week but wasn’t able to fall asleep, dad gum it!! Left there still craving a nap. All I need is 20 minutes to feel re-energized. Magical things, naps!!
Nancy, this reminds me of my grandmother. At times she was so tired but would not take a nap, even with me suggesting it.
Hello Leslie, I have never been a napper until this year, and I must say there is pure joy in resting in the middle of the day. I am glad physical therapy is helping. I love your THANKFUL THURSDAY post. Writing my gratitude list too, it was one of the items on my FALL BUCKET Thanks for linking up with us at the #GatheringofFriendsLinkParty 7
Thank you, sweet friend, for confirming my opinion of a mid day nap! We have earned the right to that joy. Using a gratitude journal before bed to track the blessings of each day. Helps to reflect back on it when I do a Thankful Thursday post.
Hi, Leslie! The last couple of comments I’ve made on your posts never were published. Not sure what’s going on, but we’ll see if this third time is a charm. I, too, enjoy a midday nap every so often. Especially if I’ve had trouble sleeping during the night before. If I’m feeling really tired, but I have a lot to do, I take a “power nap”. That’s a 20-minute nap. It’s usually just enough time to be asleep for a few minutes once I actually fall asleep, but it really does help to energize me. I also wake up from “power naps” a lot less groggy than when I take longer naps. Although longer naps can be divine as well. Sure am glad to hear that your therapy is working!
Hi Gale, I have been getting your messages and responding. Not sure what is up. Will check to see if this response appears. I think you for coming by and for always leaving such thankful comments. A power nap is just enough for me, too. Eyes closed, dim lighting, quiet. And I am restored.
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.
I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thanks, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently do you update your blog?