Good thing, too

A random memory: after having the CAT scan and MRI, we eventually ended up talking to the neurosurgeon, Dr. Elliot Min. He outlined what had happened and his recommended solution: removal of the damaged disc and fusion of C5-6 and C6-7.

In other words, major surgery. On my neck. Where there are lots of important things like nerves and blood vessels and so much more.

We expressed some concerns about all that, and wondered about perhaps just waiting for the swelling to go down instead. He (calmly) reassured us that surgery was the way to go, and not something we wanted to postpone.

“It’s what I do.”

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Inspiration, perhaps, but limitation? No.

As I continue to improve, I, of course, look to others for inspiration and examples of improvement in the face of trauma or adversity.

I had an interesting observation relating to the limits reached by others in their progress, and how it does — and does not — apply to my own situation.

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Everything is fixable

When you’re in an emergency 911 situation, it’s pretty clear you’re giving control over your very life and well-being to capable others. The concept of second-guessing a first responder, for example, doesn’t make sense. They do this every day, whereas hopefully this is a brand new one-off experience for you. That you would place yourself in their care makes sense.

But what happens after? When healing and recovery kick in, yet you’re still reliant on others for various forms of assistance and support?

Let. It. Go.

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Reclaiming time and pace

One approach I use to manage the incoming flood of information is to use a dedicated email account for newsletters and similar subscriptions. That way, I can focus on my “main” emails without distractions, while intentionally sitting back and reading interesting content later.

One benefit is that this email address is easy to ignore. If, say, I’m laid up in a hospital for a week, newsletters will continue to accumulate with no adverse effects. When I return to the account, I can choose what to do next. The typical approach is to declare email bankruptcy, delete the accumulation, and start over as new issues arrive. It worked well.

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Setting an example? Really?

My primary responsibility right now is to myself, to recover. That means physically (strengthening ambulation, improved balance, manual dexterity, etc), as well as psychologically, mainly via the written word.

In reality, though, the responsibilities go further. Much further.

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But not for the reasons you might think

I am not known for being a particularly passionate guy. Emotions exist, of course, but they’re typically kept well inside.

Imagine my surprise when, in the days after my fall and surgery, I was frequently, unexpectedly, weeping. My mind would touch on a topic and all of a sudden … tears.

I have two theories: reality and “the excuse”.

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Turning a pain in the neck into something restorative

The same day I was released from the hospital, Joan Westenberg posted an interesting essay, “The Harvest Will Come,” on downtime and the cyclical nature of creativity.

We accept that the world needs rest periods built into its operating system.

But when it comes to our own sense of meaning and purpose, our work, our lives, we expect constant summer.

The catch, particularly for our own sense of purpose, is that “downtime” is often frowned upon and even considered a form of failure, if not by others, then by ourselves.

Westenberg’s perspective is that of choice and/or the inevitability of going through less-than-creative periods, and of learning to accept them as not only inevitable but also healthy and restorative.

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When plans come together

We’ve been in our home for almost 29 years as I write this, and we’ve long known we want to stay here as long as possible. Of course, it’s a two-story home, which our knees and hips have often reminded us of.

A couple of years ago, we had the chair lift pictured above installed. It’s for the dogs, honest. Well, at least initially.

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