The Painful Season of Change

 

Ice that coated my car after the February 2025 ice storm.

Living in Northeast Ohio, I am able to enjoy the 5 seasons.  Five seasons? Yes, we have added a season to the known seasons of Winter, Spring , Summer and Fall. Our added season takes place two times in the twelve month year.  Maybe it is because we have had dogs that we have coronated the season between spring and summer and again during fall and winter as the muddy season. An issue with the in-between seasons in Northeast Ohio is the dramatic changes in temperature with in 24 hours that can occur. I am filled with hope of spring when the temperature rises from the low 50s to the low 60s for highs during the day. I accept the one warm day, five cooler days and one cold day each week that occurs the between the beginning of March to the beginning of May,  but the huge swings in temperature changes are painful. For example, there was a 32 degree difference in the high temperatures of the day within a 24 hour period. When I say painful, I am not talking about pain to my spirit.  I am speaking of a whop me down physical pain.  Thanks MS for greeting the change of the seasons with such abandon.  

A couple weekends ago, we were blessed with a rare, but beautiful day of 70 degree temperatures.  My husband and I were excited to try out our e-bikes.  It was a picture perfect day with ice cream after a bike ride and sitting by a campfire in the evening.  The next day the temperature dropped steadily through the day and my body was racked with pain from my head to my toes as it tried to adjust to the quickly falling temperatures.  Three days after our bike ride, I woke to 2 inches of snow covering my yard.  The snow lasted 24 hour before the temperature rose again into the mid 60s.  The best way to describe the pain is to liken it to the beginnings or ending of getting the flu.  My head constantly pounds, but can be lessened with a heavy dose of Advil.  My joints have a constant ache that settles especially in my elbows, knees, and left hip. The fatigue covers me like a weighted blanket.  I always push myself through knowing it will end, but by day 2 of the adjustments my nerves are raw.  Everything is louder and my thoughts are covered in a gray haze.  I am a strong woman, but my body's revolting against the temperature change is like fighting a quiet war within myself.  By day 4 or 5 I find myself almost immobile with exhaustion.  Of course the timing of this is usually when the temperatures are on the up swing again and I want to get outside.  But today on this 74 degree day, I can barely manage to make myself something to eat and all I want to do is get under the covers and go back to bed.  I am disappointed in myself not taking advantage of the fleeting beautiful weather.

Reflection:  I am so aware of being stagnant and immobile that I push myself. Pushing yourself can be good, but pushing myself to exhaustion is not. I know this is my body's changing weather pattern. It is the same thing every year between fall and winter and winter and spring, the pain, the fatigue and the blinding migraines. I must remind myself that this will not last and try to stay ahead of the pain and not be disappointed with the forced limitations I encounter.  More consistant temparutres are coming and things will be better.