Thank you so much for this one. Thought-provoking! "It’s a harsh reality that I was lucky not to have to face in any significant way when I was younger" got me thinking of my own very early lesson that gave me a deep appreciation of wellness, comfort, and mobility that I feel to this day (age 72). A few years of my life around 29-32 were blighted by back pain that deepened into disability. My search for a solution led me down some common but problematic paths: _be careful< and stop doing anything that might make things worse_ -- and, well, things will got worse, much worse. When I was at a very low point (living with parents again -- thank goodness they were there for me and had room), a wise chiropractor/physical therapist told me "You're hard as a rock, and you need to get moving again" and the Key Words: "You're not fragile!" Being fragile, never getting better, and losing all hope that I ever would, had been my reality for so long! That's when I really began to get my life back. Swimming, walking, then running, and finally weight machines. And many self-care practices both physical and psychological (a profound Trager session, and a wonderful therapist). The earlier chiro who'd said I would never carry a backpack again was wrong. I can't say I'd want to go through it again, given a choice, but in some ways it really was a gift that's informed the rest of my life.
I used to think about writing a book about this . . . maybe I still should. Now I have true aging changes cropping up, but at least no one will lament "But you're so young [to be so afflicted]!"
Once, when I took 'shrooms, I became *intensely* aware of my feet. I ran around saying, "I can feel my feet! I can feel my feet!" probably driving my friends nutty. But it was a profound experience to really have a deep appreciation of this body part that does so much for us. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
A body is kind of like a car. When it’s new, it just runs and you never have to worry about it. When it gets older though, it’s in the shop a lot. I find myself in the shop a lot these days. Anyway, good, thoughtful article. Almost spiritual, but not religious!
I really relate to these words, and I find myself in this loop often. It's in the magic of the unknown that keeps it circling back. Thank you for your share!
Thank you so much for this one. Thought-provoking! "It’s a harsh reality that I was lucky not to have to face in any significant way when I was younger" got me thinking of my own very early lesson that gave me a deep appreciation of wellness, comfort, and mobility that I feel to this day (age 72). A few years of my life around 29-32 were blighted by back pain that deepened into disability. My search for a solution led me down some common but problematic paths: _be careful< and stop doing anything that might make things worse_ -- and, well, things will got worse, much worse. When I was at a very low point (living with parents again -- thank goodness they were there for me and had room), a wise chiropractor/physical therapist told me "You're hard as a rock, and you need to get moving again" and the Key Words: "You're not fragile!" Being fragile, never getting better, and losing all hope that I ever would, had been my reality for so long! That's when I really began to get my life back. Swimming, walking, then running, and finally weight machines. And many self-care practices both physical and psychological (a profound Trager session, and a wonderful therapist). The earlier chiro who'd said I would never carry a backpack again was wrong. I can't say I'd want to go through it again, given a choice, but in some ways it really was a gift that's informed the rest of my life.
I used to think about writing a book about this . . . maybe I still should. Now I have true aging changes cropping up, but at least no one will lament "But you're so young [to be so afflicted]!"
Once, when I took 'shrooms, I became *intensely* aware of my feet. I ran around saying, "I can feel my feet! I can feel my feet!" probably driving my friends nutty. But it was a profound experience to really have a deep appreciation of this body part that does so much for us. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
A body is kind of like a car. When it’s new, it just runs and you never have to worry about it. When it gets older though, it’s in the shop a lot. I find myself in the shop a lot these days. Anyway, good, thoughtful article. Almost spiritual, but not religious!
I really relate to these words, and I find myself in this loop often. It's in the magic of the unknown that keeps it circling back. Thank you for your share!
Thoughtful and interesting meditation!