Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Things aren't always as they seem!

Today was Day 5 of my radiation treatments, it was uneventful mostly. One thing that I thought of today, was how many times things appear different than they really are. A few days ago when I went to the Chiropractor because of the nerve pain in my back ...he suggested that I get a handicap parking permit, for just  a little bit. I really didn't want to do that, he had suggested it before but I never took him up on it. How can I justify a handicap parking permit when there are so many other people who are visibly worse off that I am? Then I remembered what the Physical Therapist said about me the other day, when I was in such pain that I couldn't work out in the gym. She said "Lynn, your body is so deceiving, I would have never guessed that you had such a bad back and were in so much pain. You look so strong and healthy". Gee if I had a dollar for every time I have heard that statement. I usually just look at them and say "but sometimes that makes things harder because if you could see the problem then maybe life would be a bit easier", then I realize I really don't want to look as bad as I feel.

So today I parked in the handicap parking spot, I was so grateful to be able to do that. The parking permit that they give you for radiation is still quite a walk and a painful one when you are hurting. I have had many times in the past where I almost cried when I went to Costco or Target. First of all I would have to park miles away and then the store is so big and if there weren't any electric carts available, there was no telling if I would be able to stand and walk long enough to get what I needed and then stand in line. All that is stressful when you are hurting so bad. I don't hardly ever get prescriptions but I have always wondered why you have to walk all the way to the BACK of the store to pick them up? Just a thought! 

My oldest brother is in a wheelchair and has been since he was 19 years old. I have watched him be frustrated when people would park in a handicap spot and they didn't have a permit and didn't look handicapped at all. I then throughout my life have judged silently, some people that I saw with a permit and wondered how in the world they ever got that? Funny how much you learn when it is YOU that experiences pain or suffering, all of a sudden you realize that things aren't always as they seem. Wouldn't the world be a better place  and kinder to everyone, if we all had signs that we wore every day telling everyone what our problems or struggles were? Maybe we would be less judgmental of the nasty check out clerk if we knew that she was a single mom and working way too many hours just to survive. Or what if we knew the crazy driver that cut abruptly in front of us was, trying to get to his preschooler that he was late picking up? Point is, I have learned to be less judgmental and also I am learning not to worry about what other people think of me. If you are true to yourself, that is all you have to worry about. So I will end tonight with something that I read that made me think about this very topic. Take care dear friends!

WALKING THE DOG
A woman was flying from Seattle to San Francisco . Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes.

Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. The man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her Seeing Eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight.

He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, 'Kathy, we are in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?' The blind lady replied, 'No thanks, but maybe Buddy would like to stretch his legs.'

Picture this:
All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!

True story... Have a great day and remember...

...THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR.

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