Wednesday, June 15, 2016

GIVING THANKS IN EVERY SITUATION



I had a bad fall that left me in crutches for a while. I expected to heal quickly but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Many who have gone down that road would know exactly what I am talking about - days of swelling, pain, misery and most of all inconvenience.



Even though my friends have nicknamed me Pollyanna, there was this anxiety gnarling within me as to when I could walk unaided and I had to unhappily cross out all the events that I had already signed up for and cancel all the appointments that I had made

I fell on a Tuesday, two days before my birthday.

My friends had gone to great lengths to organise a surprise birthday party for me. They had bought the ingredients, the decorations and even ordered the cake. The theme was Caribbean and I could well imagine how much fun that would be. Sadly, it had to be cancelled.

Learning how to use crutches was a new ball game altogether. I learnt how to negotiate the stairs on my derriere just as a baby would. The first time I reached the top of the stairs, I just burst into tears. The whole experience was overwhelming.


Michael doubled up as a male nurse and received in-house training. After a while takeaways become boring and I longed for home cooked food. Seeing him look for ingredients in the larder (while I gave instructions from the couch) was pretty amusing. Being totally dependent on another for simple tasks was absolutely frustrating.

There were some things that I needed from certain parts of the house that were inaccessible for someone on crutches, so I had to give exact locations as to where the stuff was kept or hidden. I was astounded by my own memory power.

My children, sister and friends called or wrote regularly to check on me. I used to be the one visiting friends who were too ill to get out of bed and it was strange to play a reverse role.

Reading was my constant companion. I devoured every interesting piece of literary treasure and emerged with a head full of facts as well as trivial stuff.

I learnt compassion. I've seen how poorly some family members and hospital staff treat elderly patients. I can well imagine  how they must have felt when these carers grumbled beneath their breath or shouted at them. They did not ask to be old or sick.


I learnt patience especially when dealing with people who are not physically fit. I remember the times when I was in a rush and right in my path would be an old lady with her Zimmer frame and I just wished she could quickly progress on. Not any more.

I learnt how to settle for less.  I had just planted out seedlings in the cold frame before I fell. Those who love gardening would know that every stage is important and a good harvest depends on that.  I could see the garden from the window but I couldn't go out. I imagined the plants dying, one by one.

I learnt to see things from a different perspective. Bruises looked like a painting on canvas with colours changing with time - from red to purple to a sickly yellow. Taking a break from crutches, I would be on all fours. I saw grit and dust from a different level altogether.








Most of all when I went on a trip to Petra and beyond, even with the wheelchair and crutches in most places, I found that people were very kind. I had signed up a few months earlier for a very memorable trip and I wasn’t going to throw in the towel as yet. To my surprise, I was fussed over and received privileges that I had never dreamt of, like being the first in line at the immigration counter. I even had an airport staff retrieve my luggage at the carousel.

In every situation, give thanks.

This article was originally printed in The New Straits Times Malaysia, 12 June 2016
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/06/151345/giving-thanks-every-situation


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