I’ve been very busy lately and after living with no stress and no pressure for the last six months to suddenly be pressured and stressed is strange. I keep asking myself how I lived with pressure for so many years. After all, this is how my life has been forever. The hardest and most time consuming part of getting ready for brain surgery was making sure all my bases were covered and that everything I normally took care of would be taken care of while I was incapacitated. I was a busy person!Now as I return to normal, hectic life I’m encountering new challenges. I don’t have the stamina I used to. My mind, after undergoing brain surgery, doesn’t process as fast and as well. As I try to do things like I used to, I find myself growing befuddled and confused. It is very strange and disconcerting. It is as if I have a different body than the one before the surgery. But the doctors assure me that I’ll be back to 100% in another six months or so. I hope so, but even if I don’t get everything back I have learned a valuable lesson from all of this.
This has given me a whole new appreciation for other people’s limits and capacities. I am ashamed to admit it, but I used to get impatient with people who didn’t catch on to things fast. I used to judge and be critical, but I’m repenting of all that. Each of us have different capabilities and talents and abilities. Each of us have strengths and weaknesses and when we are critical of others we are looking only at their weaknesses and not their strengths. I hope I never forget that just as I am struggling right now to do my best when that best is not always optimal, others are also doing their best. Instead of being critical, I hope that from now on I can always patiently help and encourage.
great post! it is also amazing what we can learn from others when we look at their strengths!
ReplyDeleteDid I hear correctly...are you teaching this fall? And I am so glad to hear that life is getting back to normal for you...stress and all ;)
It is a great reminder you gave us in your post. I do however, disagree with your self-perspective. You are very non-judgmental, kind and loving to everyone and always have been. I learn from what you say, but I have also learned along the way, over all the years, from the way you always reach out and accept people. I totally understand being impatient with yourself because it takes so much time and energy to get back where you were, but you have never slipped backwards in the way you treat people. I've said my peace, now go forward in recapturing your normal life and remember we all love you. :)
ReplyDeleteCathie xoxoxo
Karen, Yes, I am going to have two classes this fall semester. I am very excited to be back. I've missed being with the students so much. And thanks for what you added! We do learn a lot when we observe other people's strengths.
ReplyDeleteCathie, You are much too kind! But I think you are projecting your own traits onto me! I just hope you are near by on judgment day to put in a good word for me!
ReplyDeleteI've had to learn to pace myself too. Much more than I'd like to. My emotional limitations make life challenging. But I've learned to do all I can when I can and I'm still trying to learn to not be hard on myself when I have to take a step back to recuperate. Best wishes with all you have added back on your plate. :)
ReplyDeleteWendi, I can learn a lot from you! Thanks for the good wishes. I need them! Keep hanging in there!
ReplyDeletewow, I marvel at the way you can have such a great insight into others with every struggle that you encounter, it is a great example and I feel inspired to try to do the same in my life. Thank you
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