Blurred Vision

-

 

I went to the eye doctor on Wednesday. She asked if I was having any issues and I told her that I noticed some difficulty when trying to read things up close. I already wear contacts to correct nearsightedness but, sure enough, I now need something to help focus while reading. The eye doctor at my previous practice has been telling me from the time I turned 40 that I would soon need bifocals or progressive lenses. I celebrated the "Big 5-0" back in September, so I guess I "beat the odds." After the vision test, the eye doctor left the room. When she returned, she had a pair of contacts. "This one goes in your left eye, and this one goes in your right. (I put them in) Now what do you see?" It actually looked blurry, and I was a little concerned. I read the eye chart and she said, "That's 20/20." She gave me the little book, and I was able to read the smallest line. I said, "Huh, okay," and she smiled. I now have one contact to see far and one contact to see close. She said, "Give it a week and let me know what you think." I did not like them the first day and couldn't wait to get them out. By the second day, I could already tell an improvement. I still have some transition time when focusing from close to far and some difficulty while driving at night, but my eyes are beginning to adapt to the clearer vision.

My last check-in post was at the end of August. There are areas I am still doing well with (daily bible reading, running or walking a 5K distance 3-4 times a week, posting a blog) and there are areas which I am still slacking (PT exercises and the dreaded nutrition). If I don't have a concrete goal, with accountability, I tend to slack. Also, if I don't see an immediate result, I don't make something a priority. I started this blog as a way to keep me accountable in all of the listed areas. The three areas that I have been successful in have brought me immediate pleasure or reward. Reading the bible daily refreshes my soul. Running gives me energy and usually three out of four of my runs (or walks) are with others so there is the social aspect. Blogging is just a way to release my thoughts. On the other hand, the two areas in which I find myself struggling do not give me an immediate reward, but I know they will both be super beneficial in the long-term. PT exercises will continue to help strengthen other muscles to take strain off my knees and improve my balance, something beneficial to all of us as we age. Better nutrition will aid in more weight loss and, even more beneficial, will give me the nutrients I need to properly fuel my body to run into my later years of life. 

As the year 2025 comes to an end, I want to have a clear vision as I enter 2026. I don't want to wait until December 31st to come up with a plan for the new year. I have begun thinking about what my goals (spiritual, physical, emotional) will be. Proverbs 15:22 (CSB) says, "Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Over the next two months, I plan to talk with family and close friends about areas for improvement they see in me that maybe I have been blinded to. I want to come up with a plan on how to achieve the goals I set and then I intend to write them in a blog to share with all of you because as Habakkuk 2:2 (CSB) states, "Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it." This blog is my "tablet", and you are the lucky readers. I invite you to begin thinking about goals for your own life. Let's discuss this again at the end of the year, share our plans with each other and give encouragement as we take steps to accomplish them. Most importantly, let's "Commit to the Lord whatever [we] do, and he will establish [our] plans." Proverbs 16:3 (CSB) There is no clearer vision than when we let God establish our plans.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Beginning of the End?

-
Image
 In early 2023, I began having some new aches and pains which, being in my late 40's, was not necessarily unusual. I was a runner with a three day a week, 3-to-6-mile routine established, and I had been dealing with Plantar Fasciitis for about nine months at this time, but the pain was starting to change and seemed to be moving further up my left leg. I talked to my family doctor about it, and he referred me to a physical therapist. I started there in May 2023, with visits up to three days a week lasting an hour to an hour and a half each and each session having a co-pay. The time commitment and money started to add up. After a month of PT sessions, nothing had really changed, and we determined that I should probably see an Orthopedic Doctor. I was able to get a visit within a few weeks.  My first visit with the Orthopedic office was on June 26, 2023. X-rays were taken that day in the office. The results showed some arthritis but nothing else significant. At first it was sugge...
Read more

Sacrifice

-
Image
My husband and I had the humbling opportunity to help place wreaths at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery yesterday as part of the Wreaths Across America volunteer event that places wreaths on veteran gravesites across the United States every December. This event was started in 1992 by Morrill Worcester who also owned Worcester Wreath Company. They had a surplus that year and he had the idea of placing wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. You can read the full history at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org . This was our third year helping with the event, after my (step)daddy was buried there in December 2021. I remember driving through after his ceremony and thinking how beautiful the wreaths looked, uniformly placed throughout the grounds.  The day opens with an hour-long ceremony in which each branch of the military is honored, Gold Star families are recognized, several short speeches are given, we sing the National Anthem, ending with taps and a three-volley salute. As an Americ...
Read more

Resilient

-
Image
  I don't always pick a word of the year, but I have off and on over the past few years. Sometimes I don't give them much thought and sometimes I don't even remember what word I've picked by the end of the year. For 2026, my word of the year is "resilient." " resilient adjective : characterized or marked by resilience: such as     a. : capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture     b : tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change           as defined by Merriam-Webster With the way the year started out, I think I will remember this one. I went out for a solo run on Monday. I was running on a narrow road with cars parked on either side and since it was dark, I thought it would be a good idea to get up on the sidewalk in case a car came. I do run with my Noxgear lights, but sometimes it's still hard for oncoming cars to see me hidden behind the parked cars.   As I stepped up on the ...
Read more