Ups And Downs

I need to take the same approach
With the arthritis
As with mental health—

Enjoy the ups and the periods of clarity
Without judgement or guilt or rumination

And when it hurts, try not to project onwards
From the current sensations
This only makes it worse

When I think back, I remember
Remarkable phases of ups and downs with knee pain
And function;
Times when it seemed all was lost
Then a couple of years later achieving surprising things;

Living in a room and disabled through OCD
Has played hell with my knees
Since appropriate activity is the key
But if I can hold the rumination and catastrophic thinking
And start to do stretches regularly again
Things will improve, I know.

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