I had a powerful reminder of the toll that stress takes on the body this week.  Tuesday was the deadline for an application.  I have felt anxious about completing the application for awhile.  Originally, I hoped we would be done before Christmas, but alas life got in the way, and it had to wait.  As we pulled the final pieces together this week, I noticed feelings of discomfort invading my body, particularly in my arms and hands.  By Tuesday, I was convinced the upper body workouts I  have been doing were too much for my delicate hands, and resigned to discontinue them.  Feelings of tingling and burning in my hands, along muscle fatigue in my arms were my cue to take ownership of wellness.  To do this,  I limited time at the computer, took regular breaks from playing, and increased my basic awareness of how I use my arms throughout the day.  Tuesday passed, and slowly over the next days, the discomforts subsided.  I am thankful that the tingling and fatigue are gone, but am reminded about the importance of self-care.  Going forward as I engage in activities I will continue to put my well-being first, by taking the time to stretch, taking time off when needed,  and caring for the incredible machine, my body, which allows me to swing through the air with the greatest of ease (sometimes.)