Leadership Thought #434 – Life Can Change In An Instant!
Life can change in an instant!
Yesterday started out like any other typical day for me, with the small exception of a minor headache and neck pain. I thought it was no big deal. I would exercise my usual mind-over-matter technique and get on with the day. At first, this approach worked. I become wrapped up in my work and need to be a good listener, concentrating on what I am being told. I like and care about my clients, so it’s nice to see them and help. In addition, Wednesday is the day I get my kids, and this never fails to put me in a good mood. However, the nagging headache wouldn’t go away and gradually increased in intensity throughout the day.
Towards the end of the day, I eagerly anticipated returning home to take some pain relief. I have a potent anti-inflammatory that works every time, although I try to use it sparingly. This time it didn’t work, and the pain and throbbing just kept increasing. My poor daughter was having a bit of a stomachache, but I couldn’t focus well. Thankfully, she took a nap, and her big brother stepped up to help her. Finally, out of desperation, I called my client, friend, and chiropractor and tried to book his last appointment. He has been a tremendous help to me through the years with some chronic pain issues and has helped keep me in good physical health. Once I arrived, he examined me and made some gentle adjustments, but when he heard me utter the words, “my worst headache ever,” he became genuinely concerned and encouraged me to go to the ER. Things were spiraling down quickly. I struggled to focus on driving. I will never forget the concerned look on his face as I left the office.
After arranging for the kids, I took myself to the ER and waited in intense pain for over an hour in a very well-lit and loud ER waiting room. The wait felt like torture, and I couldn’t believe how long it took for them to find me a quiet, dark room. Thankfully, the nurses were very caring, and my wonderful girlfriend (now wife) arrived to provide her usual loving support. After waiting a bit longer, a doctor finally arrived, ordered a series of tests, and put me on pain medication. By this point, the pain was unbearable, and I welcomed any relief. I was also distressed about what the tests might show.
Once the pain medication kicked in (a very strange and unsettling sensation) and I experienced some slight relief, my thoughts began to wander as to what this all meant and what the tests/scans might indicate. I also started to feel emotional and vulnerable. Life feels overwhelming when you are alone with your thoughts during a crisis. I wondered what it would mean if the news was bad and I had a lot to handle. I was concerned about the kids and the worried look on their faces as their sick dad left for the doctor. How would they manage if their dad, a usual pillar of strength, became something much less than that? I also thought about my new partner, Laurie, who is now an integral part of my life. We are just beginning this incredible romantic journey together. How would all these changes affect her? I reflected on how I had spent that day and the value of my life and work up to that point. I pondered if I had any major regrets or things I would like to do differently – fortunately, the answer was mostly no. I have come to realize that I have been very blessed up to this point in my life.
We all know that we meet the same end, but we usually don’t know when or why. Most of us avoid spending much time thinking about our mortality at all. It is almost taboo to think about our expiration date. We maintain our attention on the present and perceive our future as limitless. Why does it take a crisis for us to appreciate the tenuousness of our time here on earth and the true importance of our close relationships? It is a shame that we cannot be in this mindset more often – it would make us all slightly better people. The reality is that we all have limited time, and how we use it is important. I heard a speaker recently comment that in every interaction, we are either adding or subtracting value. I liked it when he said it then, and I like it even more now.
When you are waiting for potentially unsettling news, it has a way of clarifying your mind and humbling your self-opinion. I was lucky this time around. The diagnosis of my pain was a migraine (my first ever), and I was told there were medications and other options to help me manage future occurrences, primarily if I acted quickly upon experiencing early symptoms. It could have been much worse. Besides having a newfound empathy for migraine sufferers (God bless them), I also know what it’s like to be completely physically and emotionally vulnerable to health complications and the inherent fear and worry that takes place as you await potentially life-changing test results.
I hope that I have learned from this experience and will strive to be a better person as a result. We are all on this journey called life together, even though we depart alone. It is through our relationships, actions, and beliefs that we shape our lives and influence one another. Are you happy with where you are today? Is there anything you need to change? Should you let go of things or emotions you are holding onto? What will be the legacy you leave behind for your kids, spouse, siblings, friends, etc.? What thoughts do you want to have on your mind as you confront a moment of extreme vulnerability? It is worth thinking about now.
Related articles
- Migraines Are Real (donnaposley.wordpress.com)
- Migraines and Meditation: Working Together to Relieve Symptoms (wholesomeone.com)
- 3 major signs your headache is something more serious (nbclatino.com)
- The new normal? (painpositive.wordpress.com)
- 5 ways to handle chronic pain (cnn.com)
- What is Causing Your Headache? (jointachesandpains.org)
- Be Free Of Migraine Pain Forever (llatech.com)
- CNN Article: 5 Ways to Handle Chronic Pain (lbwebb.wordpress.com)
