Even immediately after my car accident, every single person who saw me was pleasantly shocked at how "great" I looked. Funny how much a little concealer and a new hair style can make anyone look fabulous.
One of my physicians confidently told me "there's no 'look' for pain". This wise woman also said "you can't see muscular or neurological damage".
Going through physical and neurological (inner ear disorder) therapy for months, I was in awe by anyone with broken bones. I constantly saw quicker recoveries for people with pins in their legs.
I also often wished for a pain in my butt, because I was sick of it being in my back, shoulder, knee, and head. And now, I found out that I may have joint problems too...yipee.
Anyways, I took my compliments pleasantly, and politely reminded them NOT to judge a book by its cover, even good ones.
Whenever I tried to wean into work, the effort to make myself presentable for a couple of hours with a crowded room filled with people was extremely difficult. Walking through noisy crowds gave me motion sickness. Unfortunately, the compliments often turned into "you look and sound GREAT" with a huff and a puff.
So, my constant rebuttal was "Wanna trade places?" with a smirk. They rarely asked for details, and assumed my life was just fine.
Yeah, writing my book "Empowering Women to Power Network" was fulfilling one of my dreams, but promoting it is a whole job in and of itself...something I'm not fully able to handle right now.
Hey, and you're also right: I'm living my other dream of homsechooling my girls too (thanks for remembering).
Just so you know even up to this very day, my husband and I find new ways to vertigo-safety our house so I don't faint or pass-out when I'm home alone with the girls. Our four-year old knows how to call 911, report our address, and use a cell phone...just in case.
Do I want sympathy? No way!
My point: I don't wanna trade places with anyone.
So, I stopped asking that question when I realized I was just fueling sarcasm with more sarcasm. No doubt, I've always been a very sarcastic person, but to joke around may be fine...to pass judgment is not.
I don't give a darn what people may think, because I have enough to worry about. Can you imagine not sitting too long in a chair because of back pain, or not standing too long because of your knee? Pretty annoying, huh?
But, I'm grateful for these conditions.
Consider some of these women who are within my own sphere of influence:
- Having clinical depression that she would cry all day and night, be insomniac, paranoid, and can not physically get out of bed for days at a time.
- Having a restraining order against her hope-to-be X-husband for herself and three children because he abused them. She lives in fear and worry for all their safety.
- Being 35 years old and experiencing a car accident that only broke her hips, and then the day she was supposed to come home she died. Survived by this tragedy are her husband and four children: the youngest is three and oldest 14 years old.
All of this happened during my recovery these past eight months.
Do I feel blessed? You betcha.
No matter what you may see or feel about another person, just think: "Would you wanna trade places with that person when you have NO idea what their situation really is right now!?"
My answer is "No Way", how 'bout you?
I didn't think so.
(c) 2005 Ponn M. Sabra, MPH
Ponn M. Sabra, MPH is the Author of "Empowering Women to Power Network". To learn more about her book and sign-up for FREE tips, articles and resources, visit her at http://www.empowerwomennow.com . Ponn is profiled in Marquis' Who's Who of America and Who's Who of American Women.
About fifteen years ago I was rummaging through some old... Read More
There are discoveries all around ussmall gifts of joy that... Read More
My name is Chas Brothers. Many of you know me... Read More
Forgiveness is a critical element in becoming self actualized and... Read More
Who dares to teach must never cease to learn. -... Read More
Have you ever listened to self hypnosis tapes? Or listened... Read More
Some people live in and talk about the past so... Read More
Anything that draws one away from the business of living... Read More
As I sat down to write this article, I was... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 28,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 6,... Read More
Resistance is not a new word, but for many of... Read More
IntroductionNearly all employers and human resource professionals are aware of... Read More
What areas of your life are working well? Career? Finances?Relationships?... Read More
All this week I have been singing.This week I have... Read More
Ask any of my kids and they'll tell you immediately... Read More
Any day we wish we can discipline ourselves to change... Read More
Last summer, I had an acute case of bronchitis. I... Read More
Have you ever had one of those flashes of inspiration?... Read More
"Why go and reinvent the wheel?" It's a question that's... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 26,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 9,... Read More
DREAM IT, CREATE IT, BECOME ITIf you've been reading my... Read More
I tremble at the thought that millions of people suffer... Read More
When we talk about the Enchanted Self we are referring... Read More
I really like Jack Dempsey's great one liner: "A champion... Read More
Life ?.. Indeed is full of learning's, experiences, facts and... Read More
I love you not because who you are, but... Read More
Passion can guide you, not just to live, but to... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 8,... Read More
One of the most undervalued blessings is God's will to... Read More
Chances are you have seen some type of disturbance in... Read More
It is not very often that I have an issue... Read More
My best friend, Ryan, told me last night he got... Read More
Is a grudge-laden heart sabotaging your success in business and... Read More
Did you ever receive a gift in an unexpected place?I... Read More
PART 1: Warning - This article may be inappropriate for... Read More
What if every experience in your life is sent to... Read More
Remember, everything is made of energy. Each of us has... Read More
I tremble at the thought that millions of people suffer... Read More
The true test in life does not occur when all... Read More
Synchronicity: the coincidence of events that seem related but are... Read More
Pregnant with her first child, Jill could barely contain her... Read More
Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!The moral of that story is to follow... Read More
In Catholic school the nuns used to tell us that... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 24,... Read More
Chances are you have seen some type of disturbance in... Read More
"We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals... Read More
At first glance, when tough times hit, it seems the... Read More
The old familiar adages just don't do it for me... Read More
As a chef I have a unique perspective on anger.In... Read More
Sometimes things happen in life for apparently no reason at... Read More
Let's file this one under the heading of random musings... Read More
Our deepest fear us not that we are inadequate. Our... Read More
We must shape the future and control our destiny.When we... Read More
Given a steady wind and a properly balanced kite, the... Read More
I stared into those biggest of navy blue eyes and... Read More
I bought this computer just over two years ago with... Read More
INSPIRATION can be a powerful thing. It can keep... Read More
"More than any other time in history, mankind face a... Read More
My mother often wound up in the hospital during the... Read More
Any day we wish we can discipline ourselves to change... Read More
"Some people call the still, small voice insight or intuition?Our... Read More
I have a question for you.Who are you?This may be... Read More
Have you ever been in the situation where you have... Read More
Copyright 2004 Priya Shah A while ago I... Read More
Inspirational |