The Space Between
No one ever sits around and revels over how awesome their body is. Okay, that’s not true. But as far as I’m concerned it is. Meaning, I don’t have frequent thoughts like “Wow, my body is completely healthy.” Instead, I notice when it’s not. I don’t think that is uncommon. But I would like to introduce a new concept, at least to myself.
What if, when I wake up in the middle of the night and feel a splinter in my thumb, instead of getting upset and thinking “Sheesh, will I NEVER be fine?”, why don’t I turn it around and say “A THUMB splinter? That’s the worst of it right now? RIGHT ON.”
My first inclination tonight after realising that my thumb hurt was to despair, “Could I PLEASE go some period of time without having an issue?” Then I thought, what about the space between? The space between this physical annoyance and the last? I should revel in the fact that I am not in chronic pain and there is, in fact, space between.
And so that is my revelation now which I got out of bed and broke my sleep hygiene rule to write. That’s my plan and I’m sticking to it. Good night.
November 18th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Shelby,
You start sleeping at night and get your braces off and suddenly you are Miya Angelou. Seriously, it sounds like you have gained some perspective with your sleep apnea journey. Good for you.
I hope that you have a wonderful time in Hawaii. Eat some wonderful pineapple for all of us mainlanders.
Wish I had a friend with a house in Hawaii.
Anne
November 19th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I hear you on this one. My elbow hurts and I get upset because, “there’s always something wrong.” I guess it’s the difference between people who’ve had chronic problems and people who haven’t. The ones that have recognize that a functioning limb or painless area is cherished, we’ve dealt with too many things on an ongoing basis not to worry; those who haven’t take it for granted that a problem is temporary and will go away. It’s a tough mindset to break, either way.