THE MEMOIRS OF SUMMER RAY

So, since my new skates will take 4-6 weeks to get to the Pro-Shop where I skate, my coach Cathy and I are doing just off ice stretching and strength training.

Do to three chronic illnesses that are all COVID related, I lost a lot of muscle and my flexibility. But over the last year, I have been working hard on regaining both. The stretching is the worst part because it can get painful. My muscles don’t want to stretch, so I have to take it easy. I learned last year that I couldn’t just demand my body to stretch as I hurt myself. I had no choice but to take it slow. I am still not as flexible, nor am I as strong as I was before COVID. But I am happy that I am making good progress. My lunges are lower on both legs. I never had a lunge where my right leg was low to the ground before. I was always concentrating on my left leg. But overtime, Cathy had me working on both sides of my body and it is very cool. My spiral kicks are higher. But I still don’t have the strength to keep my leg in the air. This requires my core to be stronger, which I am also working on.

I am walking only a mile as opposed to the three to five miles I used to walk. Part of my depression in all of this was the “used to be’s.” It was incredibly damaging. I learned the art of self-care and I think it pulled me through a very dark time. I learned not to feel guilty if I needed a nap during the day. I was always so hard core focused on the project that I literally would burn myself out. It felt like freedom when my Behavioral Counselor showed me that it was okay to rest because of what I was battling and that I wasn’t just being lazy.

I am excited because along with my new skates, I am getting new blades too. They are both lighter in weight than my current ones. This means, I won’t get excessively worn out as fast. I am hoping it will also reduce my need for my CPAP.

But this is my commitment to my skating and to this project. I am the older Summer Ray’s skating double in the pilot and I refused to just give it up.

I am hoping with the new skates/blades my skating will also come back faster. It is just my stamina that needs work. Stamina is defined as, “the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort.” I am thankful I am able now to lift -drum roll please 🙂 – five pound weights. I started with one, then three and now I am up to five pounds. Before, my arms were just too weak. Also if I overwork myself, my arms will go limp at my side for some reason. The doctors are still trying to figure out why. But it is part of having Dysautonomia. COVID messed me up bad. But my life was spared and I am forever grateful to God above. But it hasn’t been an easy way back. It’s actually been quite unbearable at times. But here I am on May 17, 2025, writing this blog. So far it has been a 3 1/2 year battle. I do get extremely weary of it all, and why I can’t feel guilt if I need to take a nap during the day. Self care is very important and something I am learning more of. On the Very Well Health website, they say this about self-care: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-self-care-5212781

“Self-care is the practice of taking care of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your life to promote health and wellness.

While many people may view self-care as a form of selfish indulgence, the act of caring for oneself is an important part of a person’s overall well-being.“

Listen to what they said. “While many people view self-care as a form of selfish indulgence…” But it is so true. We think we are actually being selfish by wanting to take better care of ourselves. How truly twisted is that!!! But it was a lesson I had to learn myself and now I no longer feel the guilt. If it starts to creep in, I just have to give myself a pep talk. I plan to read up on more of their articles. https://www.verywellhealth.com/!

Our health is important. We cannot take it for granted. People burn themselves out everyday and wonder they they got so sick. I am one of those people. But I am finally learning patience, not that God made me sick. I didn’t get sick so God could teach me patience. He used my illnesses as a means to expand my horizons and to learn about patience. I never thought of skin care before. I do now. I never cared about making my own soaps, lotions, or make-up. I do now. I never really cared about my diet. I do now. I care about what I eat and the chemicals that are in what I put on and in my body. But it is a day to day process. I always try to be transparent. I want people to know I can relate. It is precisely how I wrote the story of Summer Ray. I wrote her story to be relatable. It is defined as, “possible to understand, like, or have sympathy for because of similarities to oneself or one’s own experiences.”

I simply cannot wait for the new book covers, new logo, new platform and the new and improved website. COMING SOON! Then we will get to work on the film side of the things. First thing, finish the Pitch Deck!

Thank you for being a part of our Summer Ray world, here in America, and globally. I appreciate you so much!

References: www.dictionary.com; https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relatable