Pain as Pleasure
Sometimes the Universe provides another life initiation, and the question I ask is…can you feel the beauty in it?
On a gorgeous late spring day, I went for a hike to the creek - I wanted to take a picture of an amazing waterfall. As I ascended the steep embankment that edged the creek, I reached for a tree branch, slipped, and hit the ground hard…dislocating my shoulder. I rolled over and passed out!
Upon coming-to, the instinct to survive that is beautifully hardwired into my incredible human body, kicked in. I was out of cell zone, so it was imperative that I get up the embankment and get to cell reception. With presence and focus I breathed into the pain, prayed for help and found a less steep embankment. I then listened to my body asking that I lay down, as another wave of passing out washed over me. After coming around the second time and using my strong legs and my left arm to surmount the climb, I managed to reach the trail, where I sat, elevated my feet while holding the injured arm, and tried to get some blood back to my head.
The trail back to the house was still uphill yet not steep like the creek embankment. I began the trek, allowing tears to flow as I took it in small increments, just as I take life, one step at a time. I traveled in short intervals during which I would gently lower myself to the ground with care, breath deeply, then stand and repeat some walking.
I made it back to the point on the trail with cell reception and said, “That’s enough,” after which I texted my husband Steve, who texted Luke (my adult son) & Karol (my dear friend). They all came to my rescue.
Now, once upon a long time ago, I would have tried to make the long trek back to the house on my own. I never would have asked for help, let alone the ambulance that I knew was necessary. And, I never would have cried.
Today I am celebrating because I asked for what my body needed…an ambulance with trained personnel to get me to safety and medical treatment. My heart knew the answer and my ego stepped back and allowed me to honor my REAL vulnerable Humanity!!!
My Favorite Frame from this experience:
The quiet moment in the ambulance ride with a strong, young, tough guy, who was doing the formalities of treatment, and I reached out my left hand to hold his hand - no words - and he understood the language of my heart in that moment.
The Seed
The body is wise, the heart knows to ask for help. There is no shame; only connection, belonging and compassion with my fellow humans.
More Story Seeds…
