Light My Fire

The Doors are one of two of my favorite music group. If someone were to ask me who my favorite was, gun to my head, life on the line I would say The Beatles.

But I listen to the Doors not only every day, but all day long. And as a day person, that says a lot. So in that spirit, nothing lights my fire like a warm spring day. 

The importance to get outside every day when you are battling a health issue is, to me, as important as any doctor’s order.

I am not a doctor, nor do I have any formal training unless you count being a patient in one form or another training. So I can only speak from my own experience, which, as you may have guessed, has been extensive. 

Going outside is, to me, the best of medicines. With the temperatures approaching the 80’s last week, many of us got spring fever. Opening the windows, sitting outside, getting that sense of the new bloom in the air, all helps increase the senses and makes us feel better. 

Not everyone may be able to do it. Allergies, unstable immune systems, asthma are a few reasons you may need to stay in a temperature-controlled environment. I have a compromised immune system but I needed to get outside.

There is something to be said about fresh air that makes you feel a little more alive again. If you have issues when you are outside for a long period of time, if possible, try to go somewhere for a short while. 

When I was in a rehabilitation facility, there was a resident who was not outside for four years! Boy, do I remember being amazed when I heard that and it was one of those clear, deep blue skies without a cloud in the sky and no humidity and mid 70’s. If you had to come out one day, this was the day. 

You really got a sense of the other side of life as she was wheeled out and all bundled up and I dare not ask why no one had taken her outside for four years but we said hello as we knew her daughter and she smiled. Her face was happy in the warm sunshine. 

If you have been reading my blogs, you know that I encourage therapy, especially walking. There is no better time than the spring to walk. The air is still cooler in the morning and at night, and it warms up during the day. The point is, now is the time to get out and do it. 

There are many fine parks in our area, many with walking paths. Verona Park immediately comes to mind, as they have a very nice and long path to walk or even run if you are so inclined. There’s nice scenery and a large pond that allows paddle boats and even a dockside food court, along with lots of playgrounds for the kids. 

Sometimes I call going outside ‘getting back to the land of the living’ and even if you cannot get outside for a long period of time, getting outside and breathing in fresh air and changing your environment may do you a world of good.

I had had multiple battles with cancer and subsequently had to undergo months and months of chemotherapy treatments. Going through chemo is warranted by the need to fight cancer but it is an awful experience.

Without it, most likely you will die. With it, you looked like you did. The day after treatments I always made it a point to get outside and breathe in some fresh air. It allowed a sense of normalcy, and to me, this was immeasurable. 

There are times where you may need to stay home; cold and flu season quickly comes to mind. Now, even though we did not have a true winter season, the weather is changing for the better. We are on the right side of winter as it is now spring, and the change in environment may do you a world of good. 

So maybe this blog will ‘light your fire’ and hopefully you will get outside and maybe do some gardening, walk around the block, take a drive, and enjoy the great outdoors.