A Preview of Coming Attactions

When I broke my pelvis back in January (yes it has been a tough year medically for this family, I can't wait for 2008 to be over with!) I never thought I would be glad for the opportunity to see what its like to stay in the hospital and then be on bed rest for an extended period of time. Little did I know back on that fateful night when I fell of the horse I was riding that I was in for a "dry run" of what it will be like when I have my surgery. Granted, I was only in the hospital for two nights and didn't need surgery, but looking back I'm actually glad that I now know what to expect, what to pack for the hospital stay and how my body will react to healing after a traumatic experience.

Back when I was laying in bed, day in and day out, I thought about how the experience was making me mentally and emotionally stronger. I only muttered "why the hell did this happen to me" a few choice times while trying to shuffle around the house with my walker (hey, now I have one for when I'm old and crippled!). I now know that I am a strong person and am looking at my surgery not with dread or trepidation, but rather with an open mind that this will help me in the long run and while it is going to be awful now I know my life will be better in a couple of months.

A wonderful client of mine sent me a book on meditation and mindfulness while I was recovering from the pelvis incident.
Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh helped me focus on positive aspects of my life rather than the negative that could creep into my busy mind. While speaking with my therapist this week (I may be strong, but I'm not THAT strong!) he also mentioned meditation and relaxation techniques. He told me that meditation and relaxation are commonly used prior to going through surgery because it better prepares the body for the stress related to the operation. I have always had anxiety and this year's events have not helped me relax at all. I am excited to learn new ways to deal with my anxiety, especially in this preparation time before surgery. Hopefully I'll be able to take the lesson's I'm learning now, and those lessons that I know I will be learning within the next couple months and apply them to my next large life event!