You’ll find me on the yoga mat most mornings usually outside. It’s and important part of my day. This morning while in a seated (not so) wide legged straddle. A Rhinoceros beetle trundled across the grass right below my toes. He just ploughed through the grass up and down and through anything in his way . The path of least resistance wasn’t a factor for him. After all He’s got a rhino horn nothing can stop him.
It is not unreminiscent my attitude quite a few years ago now. Head down, grit the teeth and plough through.
I had a business to run , I was renovating a house, landscaping a large outside area and converting a two story barn into office space. Also I was still playing football and running . I couldn’t let a bit of pain in my joints slow me down . Man up! Use that horn to push through! Just get on with it.
Fear. That’s how I see it now.
It’s easier in the moment to just get on and leave the big problems for another day. Not listen to anyone that might ask you to take it easy. The ones that really suffer are those that care for you and this is especially true for health issues.
‘It’s not as bad as it was yesterday’.
‘I can handle the pain’.
‘I’m getting older, I’m going to have joint problems’
These are all common quotes from those going through chronic pain and not facing up to ownership of that problem . I don’t mean handing that problem to someone in a white coat to tell you what to do . I mean owning it.
What a cop out!
Its your issue. Take ownership of your Arthritis its yours no one else’s
But you see I was stubborn . I thought if I kept carrying railways sleepers on my shoulder and laying oak floors on my knees. My joints would magically get better.
So I Played football until my knees were burning hot at the end of the game. At night I would crawl on all fours up the oak stairs I had installed up to bed and collapse. What a tough guy hey ! Or maybe I was just scared.
‘People won’t change until the pain of not changing is greater than the pain changing brings.’
Well, the bottom was coming for me and just like the Rhino beetles I see upside down on the track eaten out by ants my time came like it does to us all. BUT I was fortunate to have enough about me to be able to see the bottom regarding my health.
And the bottom was in.
For me the low point was on a park bench in Regents Park London . At 42 on the phone to my mum crying. It was confirmed . I ‘needed’ knee replacements.
That was years back now and on another continent .
..And I still have my knees.
Please share this journey and with anyone you know suffering with Osteoarthritis. Or any chronic illness.
Many Thanks for reading this post .
Here is last weeks intro……