Perspective: Life Lessons Learned in a Hospital Waiting Room

Hi Everyone,

I appologize for my absence from blogging, I have been spending a lot of time getting my business organized so I can deliver more and better content to you all.  I hope everyone has been enjoying Katie's awesome blogs she has been putting up.

Has anyone tried her Cauliflower dish yet?

I had an experience the other day that I really wanted to share with you all as I think it serves as a powerful reminder that we all have so much to be grateful for.

On Tuesday I was at the doctors office having a consultation for an ongoing problem I have been having.  I was feeling pretty bummed out.  I have been dealing with this issue since September of last year.  I have followed all recommendations, tried a variety of different treatments, changed my diet, visualized it healing, willed it away, and yet... it lingers.

This lingering problem leaves me in a fair amount of pain and discomfort throughout the day.  Furthermore the medication for it is horrible.  I take it and I instantly get a headache and feel like I am going to pass out.  The headaches last for several hours and often times reach a migraine level of intensity.

What is worse than the pain is the way it has been affecting my lifestyle.  Travel has been very hard as has been doing many of the outdoors and social things I really enjoy doing (hence the reason you all have not been seeing as many pictures from me as usual).  I have been avoiding surgery because I have read one to many horror stories on the internet of worst case scenarios that happen during the operation.  Usually I don't buy into this kind of stuff, but I still experience daily complications/pain from the hernia surgery I had almost two years ago.  Plus, the simple fact, that I just don't want to have surgery! Sooo needless to say I get a little to paranoid about these things.

That's my story.  Through this all I feel like I have kept a pretty great attitude about it.  My friends and I have had quite a few good laughs about it.  More importantly, while it has affected some of the things I enjoy doing, it has given me more time to focus on other things I really enjoy doing.

I think this is so crucial when we encounter obstacles in life.  Don't focus on what you are having to give up.  If you do, it will consume you.  Instead focus on what opportunities you will now have more time for.  Put your love, your energy, your passion into those things, they will help you get through the tough spots.

Anyways, back to my consultation on Tuesday.  So I am sitting there in the waiting room, trying to reassure myself that I really have tried everything, and that surgery is the best decision moving forward.  While I am sitting there I am also having a little pity party that was attended by such phrases as, "this sucks," "I am to young for this crap," "not another surgery," "I don't understand I am so healthy," blah blah blah, etc, etc, etc...

Right as I am at the apex of my feeling like a victim, a doctor walks out with a man who had been sitting quietly in the chair next to me 20 minutes earlier.  The doctor starts talking to the man's wife saying something about how one piece wouldn't fit inside of another or something like that.

Then I heard a noise.

Then another noise.

There was this beep, then a garbled computer sounding noise.

I looked up and immediately felt shammed by my little pity party.  Here was this man, probably in his early 50's who had a trachea box in his throat.  He could not talk, he could only communicate by pushing a button that would then make a noise that alerted people to let them know that he understood.

I can talk, I can sing (kind of), I can communicate, I can use my words to express myself.  More than that, after my operation, barring an internet horror story occurrence, I should be feeling better within a few weeks.  This guy, who knows how long, if ever?

I was reminded of the words my Dad had told me and that I have shared with all of you before: "We never have to look to far to see someone who has it worse than us."

It is true, we never do.  I, you, we all, have so much to be grateful for.  If we all would spend more time focusing on that instead of the not so wonderful stuff, I am convinced the world would be a happier, healthier place.

I went into my appointment with the doctor with an improved attitude.  Surgery is scheduled for this coming Tuesday in the early am.  It is the next step for me, more importantly, I believe it is the right step.  :)

Spend some time today reminding yourself of all the great things in your life.  Take a few moments to focus on all the wonderful opportunities in front of you.  :)

Carpe Diem,

Jesse