Everyone says, "When you have your health you have everything."
I disagree.
Recently my knees hurt. Really brought me down. I couldn't go up or down stairs without a breathtaking distraction from whatever I was thinking.
Step, ow!, gasp, ugh!
I didn't have my health.
At least for a couple weeks. Not completely.
I'm not complaining here. I recognize that an arthritic flareup is not a giant loss of health. I am filled with gratitude to live among the luckiest in the Health Dept.
Anyway, during those kneedy weeks, here's what I had:
- constant pondering of entropy and mortality
- physical therapy/Muscle Activation Technique
- personal training
- limited mobility
- a doctor's visit and diagnosis of osteoarthritis
- a few Advil
- many consultations with Family Nurse Practitioner Alisa Isaac
- special intervention by the T'ai C'hi faculty
- many tiresome conversations about joints
- interruptions to my (runaway) train of thought whenever I took a step
- plans to cancel a Grand Canyon hike
- decreased life expectancy
- immediate readiness for knee-replacement surgery
Again, I'm not complaining. But my point is this: I didn't have my health, and I had plenty. Plenty of what I didn't want.
Renewed Knees
After a few weeks of Muscle Activation Technique, exercise, T'ai C'hi, and meditation — the pain has gone away. I am so relieved. I'm out in Pacific Palisades looking forward to a hike today.
Now I have my health. And I have none of that distracting pain. I have my health. And I have nothing. I'm back to being able to enjoy the nothingness of good health.
And I'm glad about it.
When I have my health, I have nothing.
When you have your health, you have nothing.
I wish you your health. May you have nothing.
Typed in Sara Tucker and Peter Carr's kitchen, Pacific Palisades. Dedicated to their knees.