Yesterday at lunch I went to a TRX class at my favorite work out spot Wellnest Studios. TRX always kicks my butt and since I have not been in almost 2 months my butt got kicked extra hard. I love lifting weights, but the work I do in the gym with free weights and machines just does not compare to the total body workout I get with these straps. No matter what exercise I am doing it is always working my core and challenging my balance both things I need to improve. When I have been away from it for a while the thing that hurts most is the muscles I use the least- forearms, fingers, and what I refer to as the “hinge muscles,” which are whatever muscles in that inner crease of the elbow. The class is so exhausting sometimes I just stay in my workout clothes the rest of the day and yes, I work in an office. It is pretty much casual Friday every day, but not quite that casual.
Yesterday was exhausting, but I did manage to put my work clothes back on afterward. At some point in the afternoon all the effort I exerted during lunch just HIT me. I was wiped! BUT I had to grab some papers from the printer. I wandered into our usual copy room and they were not there. I headed over to the printer on the other side of our building, grabbed my docs, and headed back to my seat.
The journey for these printouts was not a long one, although I did walk in a loop through all corners of all office- almost literally! Our floor is set up in different sections so I have to go snaking through cubicles and offices to get anywhere, which means walking in small hallways and through doorways, which I absolutely HATE because I never know who is going to pop out in front of me! Negotiating hallways and doors is one thing, but throwing other humans into the mix is another thing all together, so much so that I always have a mild level of anxiety when I walk through the office for fear of actually having to walk by another person in tight quarters. On top of me stressing through MY long journey I was tired and could just feel that a trip was imminent.
I just had one more door to walk through, then about 20 feet more, a turn to the right and I would be home free (technically cubicle-free I guess as I was going back to my desk in my cubicle!). Unfortunately, I did not keep my eyes on the prize and took a peek in my boss’s office when I spotted his boss in his office and thus the downward spiral began- literally! The split second I moved my eyes from the ground in front of me to the person to the left of me I was off balance, bad off balance. I threw my cane this way and that as I stumbled around trying in vain to regain control. Thankfully I saw what I thought would be my saving grace- the wall. Yes, just keep propelling yourself forward into the wall, it will stop your unbalanced, drunk-like, jerky movements. It did. I was right. But I was a little too close to the wall and when I slammed into it with so much force I immediately ricocheted off, and since walking backward is even less my forte than walking forward, I. Just. Fell. Flat. On the ground. Mostly on my already sore butt.
It was extremely dramatic as everyone came out of their offices and cubicles to make sure I was OK. Are you hurt? Do you need help? Are your wrists OK? — that one was from my co-worker with carpal tunnel syndrome. From my boss’s boss: Have you been drinking? No? Well when did you stop drinking? –We have a pretty chill office culture.
I scootched myself over to a random chair in the hallway and lifted myself up. Someone gave me my cane, and I walked as dignified as I could back to my desk thanking everyone for their concern and letting them know that yes I was OK, and although I couldn’t remember when I had stopped drinking, I was pretty sure I was not drunk.
I think my favorite part of the day was when I mentioned my sore bum to my friend/co-worker/cubicle-mate and wondered if I would have a bruise. She wanted to know what I was talking about. Did you forget? Forget what? Uh my incident with the wall? Wall? What wall? What are you talking about? She had her earbuds in the whole time and had no idea what I was talking about so I had to spell it out for her:
I ran into the wall and then fell on the floor.
And I could not stop laughing about it. I am giggling even now. Even though it hurts my bruise! Usually my falls are in slow motion especially now that I have my cane to keep my upright, but every once in a while I whip out a gem like I did yesterday. If only we had security cameras in the office. Unfortunately no one even saw it happen, just heard it, and got a view of the aftermath. Even I am not quite sure how it happened and it happened to me.
Wall. Floor. Over… But never out.
Oh Yes She Cane! 