Life is good and still it can be a struggle

Today it is a beautiful fall-like day.  It has been the hottest fall in southern California.  The cool air feels good.  So far I have had a healthy fall.  The heat did wipe me out (of course) but no flu!  I was run down the past few days after my big Catalina trip.  I went to bed at 8:15 one night and 9:00 last night.  I feel a little more perky today. I am excited that I seem to be getting stronger.  I am grateful that I have not been as fatigued as of late.  It has allowed me to do more exercising.  I found that simple floor pilates, yoga, or swimming is working best.  The more I exercise the more flexible and mobil I feel.  I also have better energy and strength.  Keeping my body as strong as I can is helping my walking.  Pilates is the big help here.  So many exercises strengthen your core muscles and then it increases flexibility.  It helps with the tightness and rigidity in my legs.  I wish I had not given in to fatigue early on and kept up with a workout.  It relieves stress too! I think learning to manage my disease is making a difference in the fatigue.  It was really hard to learn to not "have to do".  I love doing, but often I need to say no or ask for help.  And learning to just slow down and take a big breath is a relaxing thing.  This disease is a pain in the but.  But I refuse to give in.