A skiing injury taught me the value, once again, of accepting reality but I lose that ability every now and then. Prior to my ski trip, I had achieved a reasonably high level of physical training having spent several years working to get there. I had chronic back trouble laced with some serious denial (this was before my ski injury!) and in 2004, I decided to do something about it. It took three years to get back a lot of things I had lost the ability to do (take long car or plane trips, sleep in hotel beds, lift, push, pull, carry heavy objects, etc.). Well, I can do most of those things now which is, well, remarkable. I feel quite good most days and am exercising - well, training is a better word - again. I lead a much more normal life and, yet, every now and then, I can feel the frustration bubbling up again. I want what I had; not what I have.
The insistence on hitting the rewind button, to go back to what you once had, is about as effective as teaching a cat to bark. Try all you want - it won't happen.
Suffering stems mostly from a refusal to accept the conditions of the moment. And, honestly, right now, it still is for me, nine months later, moment to moment. Each time I feel frustrated, and yesterday that was, oh, at least 5 times, I mentally imagine letting go of it. I visualize it, take a breath and then just let go. Accept the present, work on the future, be thankful I know what to do and have access to the tools and environments that can make it all happen.
For those of you who can relate to my desire to teach a cat to bark, check out this short (one minute) film from one my favorite blogs, The Happiness Project, about how the things in life that sometimes seem to be in your way are, in fact, your way.
Peace -
Doug Kelsey
A skiing injury taught me the value, once again, of accepting reality but I lose that ability every now and then. Prior to my ski trip, I had achieved a reasonably high level of physical training having spent several years working to get there. I had chronic back trouble laced with some serious denial (this was before my ski injury!) and in 2004, I decided to do something about it. It took three years to get back a lot of things I had lost the ability to do (take long car or plane trips, sleep in hotel beds, lift, push, pull, carry heavy objects, etc.). Well, I can do most of those things now which is, well, remarkable. I feel quite good most days and am exercising - well, training is a better word - again. I lead a much more normal life and, yet, every now and then, I can feel the frustration bubbling up again. I want what I had; not what I have.
The insistence on hitting the rewind button, to go back to what you once had, is about as effective as teaching a cat to bark. Try all you want - it won't happen.
Suffering stems mostly from a refusal to accept the conditions of the moment. And, honestly, right now, it still is for me, nine months later, moment to moment. Each time I feel frustrated, and yesterday that was, oh, at least 5 times, I mentally imagine letting go of it. I visualize it, take a breath and then just let go. Accept the present, work on the future, be thankful I know what to do and have access to the tools and environments that can make it all happen.
For those of you who can relate to my desire to teach a cat to bark, check out this short (one minute) film from one my favorite blogs, The Happiness Project, about how the things in life that sometimes seem to be in your way are, in fact, your way.
Peace -
Doug Kelsey