Robyn's Travels

Laughter is good for the soul, but bad for the ribs…

So I’ve been fighting this awful cold over the past few weeks.  It got to the phase where I had post-nasal drip and I was coughing heavily to break it up.  Apparently I coughed harder and stronger than I typically do, so much that I bruised my right rib cage just below my chest. 

Research from one website states that “one may suffer from painful or labored breathing due to repetitive strain to ribs due to chest congestion. When the body tries to expel the inhaled irritants by way of cough, the ribs may suffer from trauma due to the repetitive or spasmodic contraction of the chest cavity. The violent release of air or phlegm during coughing fits can even cause the ribs to crack.”

So as a result, I have been nursing sore ribs over the past week.  I am limiting certain movements, such as sit-ups and iron bridges, in Kung Fu so as not to aggravate my ribs more.

But here’s the kicker - laughing also hurts my ribs.  And apparently I laugh. A lot. And I don’t mean a little giggle here and there.  Ben was cracking me up (literally) all weekend. He’d say something funny, I’d laugh in response, then groan in pain. Repeat the cycle. Trust me, Aleve has been my best friend over the past week.

This situation made me realize that I laugh a lot when I’m around Ben. And usually that’s a great thing.  Just not at this moment.  Maybe the fact he’s on a business trip right now for a few days will help me heal faster.  But this experience does make me appreciate how much I laugh and smile in general. And not to take it for granted. Or take Ben for granted either.  :)

Please sponsor me in the ACS Relay for Life!

This is my 5th year participating in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.  This wonderful event is an overnight relay to recognize both cancer survivors and to remember those we lost to cancer. Once again, I am walking as a member of the Watertown Savings Bank team. The event is being held on June 8-9, 2012 at Victory Field in Watertown, MA. 

Please considering sponsoring me.  No donation is too small towards the fight against cancer. My goal is to raise at least $250. For an online donation, please visit this website:

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/robynalman

Thank you for your support!

Back to work at Kung Fu after a nasty cold…

Have you encountered this horrible cold going around lately?  I have, and it has taken two weeks to go thru my immune system.  Just when I thought it was getting better last week, the cold took a turn for the worse and rendered me useless for a week.  Meaning no kung fu for a week. Not good.  Not happy.

Since last Monday, I didn’t work out at all.  This cold basically took the life out of me.  So I’ll be honest, I was dreading heading back to class tonight.  And honestly, it was rough.  I felt like my first day being a white belt all over again.  Even though it was an hour-long class, I was weak.  I mean, I had a hard time holding up the focus mitts for my partner to practice small plum flower fist!  Between the humidity and the lingering effects of my cold, it was a challenging night.  But I’m glad I went. Give me a week - I’ll be back to my former strength.  At least Shi-fu said my footwork is getting better - yay!