"One cannot get through life without pain. What we can do is choose how to use the pain life presents us." ~ Bernie S. Siegel
I am almost embarrassed to tell you about the freak accident I had earlier this week. I stepped into a toothpick that was trapped in the kitchen rug. At the time I was moving fast, in the middle of fixing lunch and already folding clothes in my head...
I was definitely NOT living in the moment.
Almost the entire length of the toothpick entered the soft bottom of my right foot, at an angle. I could feel the invading wood under my skin. The top of the toothpick broke off and within minutes the area became too swollen to reach the tip with tweezers.
Ouch!
So, it was off to the doctor, with several injections of Novocain before the splinter’s extraction. Today I am still hobbling and taking antibiotics and Vicodin. I know one thing: being in pain sure makes you appreciate not being in pain.
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PATIENCE AND SWEETNESS...
“Out of pain grow the violets of patience and sweetness.” ~ Helen Keller
Certainly blind, deaf, and mute Helen Keller (1880-1968) was an inspiration to the world, looking for the fragrance of flowers despite the pain. This great lady of courage uttered her first words at age seven and with tenacity and spirit overcame her overwhelming obstacles to soar.
“A wounded deer,” wrote Emily Dickinson, “leaps the highest.”
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TAKE CARE...
“Looking deeply at any one thing, we see the whole cosmos. The one is made of the many. To take care of ourselves, we take care of those around us.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
In life, it is important for all of us to take the time to take care.
I learned that the hard way with my injury. The sidelining experience has forced me to slow down, take better care of myself, and ask for help from others. The good news is that with my outer movement curtailed, I have had time to spend on my inner exploration. With the pain came much-needed self-nurturing.
“If you don't know about pain and trouble, you're in sad shape. They make you appreciate life.” ~ Evel Knievel
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LEARN THROUGH PAIN...
“The unending paradox is that we do learn through pain.” ~ Madeleine L'Engle
And yes, sometimes we need the pain to get to the lesson. My epiphany this week was the realization that I needed to slow down and look inside for a while.
What’s wrong with a little pampering?