Dear Post-Surgical Self…
How does it feel to have two working knees!? I admit, that feeling is foreign to me now as I have forgotten the way it feels not to have to monitor the impact of every step. I have forgotten the feeling of the freedom to walk miles and miles with the fantastic transportation tools given to me by nature.
Perspective is an important thing in life, I have found. It can mean the difference between a day of depression, or a day of rest. It can provide inspiration-in-a-box for those who flounder a few days into their goals.
I was given a huge helping of perspective when I damaged the knee you are now able to use so freely. In an instant, the understanding of myself went from invincible, perfect, to limited, flawed. The feeling of limitless possibilities which is so carefully instilled in those who love us as children was suddenly pulled out like a table-cloth from under my finely-polished silverware. Now look at me, tarnished and broken.
There are many things I wished I could do once they had been made unavailable: Mountain climbing, dancing, hiking, simply taking a walk in the morning, skydiving, simply diving for that matter! Such handicaps as mine, though small in size and short in formation, create such an expansively psychological difference.
I have some simple requests which should take only seconds to comprehend, but will take a constant effort to continue momentum. I will lay these out in as simple and direct a form as possible, so there is no room for misinterpretation:
- Use your body at every chance you get. Do one thing every day that scares you. Do not let a day go by when you do not surpass yesterday’s adventure. Even if finishing up a long day of writing, or sick as a dog, work as hard as you can to utilize the location you are in to create a unique experience for yourself.
- Do not miss an opportunity for a new experience. Afraid of the water? Deal with it. Not into math? Figure out something you enjoy about it. Go skydiving. Trek to the top of Mt. Everest. Go diving. Give fishing a try. When someone says “Hey, I know you don’t usually do this sort of thing, but would you like to try X? Say yes before you have the chance to think of all the reasons to say no. Please, PLEASE, PLEASE…do NOT miss out on anything this world has to offer. I know how your mind operates, and you will never forgive yourself if you miss something. The one thing you’ll regret when you’re old is the time you wasted.
- Don’t forget to expand your mind. The mind is like a parachute – it only works when its open. Keep memorizing and studying the great works of those who came before you, as well as the ones who came after. Those who are younger than you were born at a different time, and had to deal with different circumstances, their intrinsic knowledge may illustrate a solution or route to getting to one you had not yet considered.
- Listen to beautiful music. There is little reason to memorize the names or composers, but listen to the music no matter what. Musical rhythm is an extension of the heartbeat. It will teach your mind how to think, and provide a vacation from the mental patterns you need to learn to break free from.
- Keep dancing, especially if someone is watching. Remember the time you danced outside the window of Office Max, and the employee inside began to dance with you? You aren’t embarrassing yourself or someone else when dancing in public, you are giving someone an instantly recognizable reminder that life isn’t so serious. How many times has a goofy video on YouTube given you perspective and displaced your anger after a long day of work? Dancing has the same effect, on everyone.
- Focus on everyone else, don’t worry about yourself. You can have everything you want in life, as long as you help enough other people get what they want. Don’t worry about whether you’ll have enough friends in ten years, focus on developing relationships which help and provide support for others.
- Do not say negative things about others. Every unkind word you don’t say, is a loveletter time mails back to you. You have made false assumptions about so many people, take a step back and give everyone an equal chance, and clean slate. Remember how many countless people have given you more than one fresh chance.
That is all I ask of you. Please remember these values and the promises I am now making on your behalf. Do not lose sight of the passion you feel for life, and the things you desire to experience. Make plans, but do not plan so much that you lose the dexterity and detachment in your life which has allowed so many of the adventures already experienced.
I’ll see you in ten weeks, by which time your knee should be fully recovered. I look forward to experiencing, as a memory of your past, all the new experiences and maturity you will pilot us to.
Thank you so much for being alive!
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