<font color="blue"> Though it's been 2 months since I posted this thread, I have not forgotten. I think it will be a long process still.

Yesterday was the most trying, long day of "work" that I've experienced since my injury and had guidance on how to manage pain and stress.

The powers running the volunteers of the Superbowl...well, let's just say that she MICROmanages everyting. EVERYthing. NOT good for someone with pain issues and esp for PTSD and disability needs. NO accomodations, she doesn't have a mode for that (yet.) I ran into the wall a few times with issues..

And the day was a full 12 hours. I refused to do anything physically over the line such as lifting, pulling, pushing. BUT I did do a lot of standing, and walking. I am in pain for that. HOWEVER I am not in level 10 pain, which even a year ago, I would have been. I attribute this to mindfulness DURING the event.

I still had trouble remembering my pain med. Water was NOT readily available as they said it would be. I drank my supply too quickly with the idea more was there. I was over a team of 4 and let them take their breaks before I took mine (I will NOT do that again these next 2 weeks.) and thus ended up on the short end of the stick, esp when 2 of the workers did not return at all.

I wasn't vocal enough with my needs. Even though I DID remind 2 of the professional staff of my disability needs, they of course weren't able to make it a key element of remembrance. I was reprimanded in front of the entire Captain's team for something that was disability related. Though she ended up saying WELL.. OK...that was hardly expressing to me that she had learned anything from the experience. and was embarassing in a way, to me.

ALL that could have increased my pain...due to the stress.

I had discussed with my T about enjoying the moment. I worked at not getting caught up in the mechanics of it all (so many ppl, so many INCOMPETENT people, so many LAZY people, so much to do, so disorganized methods... filing, finding, walking, fatigue, pain etc) BUT on the moment: HEY I was enabling a great sports event to take place for 120+thousand ppl to enjoy with millions more to watch etc...and I was HERE in the place! I have memorabilia out the yin yang and more to come! I've helped others have a good experience also!

So that keeps the stess down. My mantra was :Nothing today will over stress me. It worked most of the day

So, even though my body ached and pained, I went home, took care of Caleb and Namaste (my bunny) took a hot hot shower and went to bed with 3x the pain meds and ice packs... and slept! After 17 hours of rest and sleep, I went to the picnic today (for Orange Bowl Ambassadors) and ate free food, played a water balloon game (Ouch, water when thrown is heavy and hurts so I won't do that again) showed off Caleb to the park visitors, and then came home and came here to PC.

I'm fatigued and in pain, but I am managing. It has to be part due to the mindfulness of yesterday, and the psychological frame of mind for today.

What do you think?