Chris...I had personal experience with this. I was halfway through my education, which I had started late in life (50 and I needed a masters degree in order to fulfill my plan to become a psychotherapist. The undergrad degree would do no good to fulfill this dream. During the summer between degree programs, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and spent 7 hours in a surgery that left me unable to walk for three years and terrible fatigue and double vision along with really terrible tinnitus. Rather than lay in bed and worry about my symptoms and what I had lost, I went full bore into my graduate degree online. I had to go through hoops...two out of state residencies (the school rented me a power chair)...practicums and internships where I had to work from 10-30 hours a week, and then two years at an agency so I could earn the hours for licensing. It was the hardest thing I ever did but I think it also helped me to heal. Eight years later, the tumor was regrowing and I had to endure the surgery all over again. I healed for a bit...then went right back to working, but on a more limited basis. Now, the tumor has started to grow again. I just got home from radiation treatment and am in recovery mode again. But I push myself just enough so I don't end up back in bed. There is a part of me that questions whether or not any of this was a good idea. But there is something inside that doesn't want to stop. I am now seventy-three and am still learning, still growing, still doing. Like you, I'm not saying this would be how everyone should handle medicaL setbacks. I think there are times when it could actually be harmful. But I think we all need to push and find the boundaries rather than learn helplessness.
Wow what a story, thank you so much for sharing, just goes to show how and why it's so important to not give up and push ourselves ❤️ wishing you a good recovery 💞
I've found this to be true in the emotional/mental realm as well.
The first time I went dancing after separating from a long-term relationship with someone who spent the whole time making me feel bad for liking to dance, I had a panic attack in the bathroom.
So, I purposely went again a couple weeks later. Three hours before it was time to head out to the venue, I started feeling really anxious again.
So, I kept an eye on it. When I arrived, before I went inside, I sat in my car and paid attention to my breathing for several minutes and just went slow.
Why should someone else's hangups ruin what I love for me? If I want to do those things, I have to *do* them until they become comfortable and fun again. And it's worked. Now dancing feels good again, and so do all the other things I had quit doing for the same reason.
Run towards what you want until it's not scary anymore.
Martha Beck has a similar saying that goes something like “If you want something, move towards it. If you want something and it scares you, run towards it as fast as you can.”
Ironically, I’ve found the danger is where the security is. And conversely, the comfort is where the danger lies. A lack of drive, that manifests as indolence, has typically bitten me in the arse. I find the absence of all anxiety is indicative of too much control of the parameters of my life and too little excitement. I can’t help thinking that if I took more chances I’d still be married.
Chris, I'm just nodding my head as I'm reading this. As an RN of almost 30 years, I don't have insurance because I don't go to doctors 😉 when I turned 65 I'll have Medicare, which I won't be using.
I have a company in Florida that takes cash only and you pay based on your age and office visits are included things like EKGs and certain things - no charge. The lab costs are their cost plus 3 bucks to discard the needle as a hazardous waste.
I chose that way, because not only are they "medical", but they are holistic. That's what I am. Don't ask me how I worked in the Sick Care industry for almost 30 years in the hospital as an ICU nurse and travel nursing.
OK, well I'll tell you anyway. I did it to change the system which unfortunately didn't happen. However, I was able to change one life at a time or even many in one day, including educating physicians on alternative and natural health.
Got sick one time when I was 52 and got pneumonia. That was the last time I used antibiotics. I had such a severe reaction. I went into a heart dysrhythmia and the. steroids for inflammation in my lungs caused bruising on my body and I said that's it, got rid of everything and went total holistic. The "system" had told me if I didn't go to the hospital, I was going to die. I said I'll die on my 10 acres in the country before I ever go to a hospital.
While using mainstream sick care, I suffered about 2 1/2 weeks and almost died and when I switched over to completely holistic means using essential oils, herbs, and food based supplements- I was better in four days. Just had a little lingering cough.
If the USDA, FDA, WHO and all affiliated entities say something is good for you, I pretty much believe and live the opposite 💯
Not only did your story at home for me personally, but professionally. I'm just thankful I'm no longer in that system.
So as you titled the article, that's what I do- I run towards the danger 🏃🏻♀️
The woman we're talking about here is Sarah Polley, most recently known for writing & directing the film 'Women Talking'; you may also have encountered her as the lead in 'Road to Avonlea' back in the nineties!
I've lived a life of extremes up until this point, so I'm working on balancing myself out. Often that means pushing myself out of my comfort zone by doing more, like seeing people when I feel safer isolating myself, or doing things I never thought I could. But more often these days it's choosing to lean into the discomfort of not doing things. Sitting in silence for a bit without a device to distract me, or going for a walk without headphones. The latter is usually much harder!
My partner’s life philosophy can basically be summed up as “run towards the danger,” and as someone who’s historically tended towards the opposite, his influence on me in the 4+ years we’ve been together has been as profound as it is (sometimes) infuriating! :)
Thanks so much for sharing this, Chris. I'm recovering from a concussion and this is a great reminder. So much easier to avoid than move towards that which scares us. This also reminds me of the Buddhist meditation practice of Tonglen where we breathe in or draw to ourselves all that we find challenging and frightening. A very gentle practice, like touching a soap bubble with a feather as Pema Chodron says. And finding that sweet spot of moving towards and resting in stillness.
I have been overcoming (slowly) a shoulder and Biceps tendon issue in exactly this way. Just have to feel out the degree of pain each week and tweak as I go.
Chris...I had personal experience with this. I was halfway through my education, which I had started late in life (50 and I needed a masters degree in order to fulfill my plan to become a psychotherapist. The undergrad degree would do no good to fulfill this dream. During the summer between degree programs, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and spent 7 hours in a surgery that left me unable to walk for three years and terrible fatigue and double vision along with really terrible tinnitus. Rather than lay in bed and worry about my symptoms and what I had lost, I went full bore into my graduate degree online. I had to go through hoops...two out of state residencies (the school rented me a power chair)...practicums and internships where I had to work from 10-30 hours a week, and then two years at an agency so I could earn the hours for licensing. It was the hardest thing I ever did but I think it also helped me to heal. Eight years later, the tumor was regrowing and I had to endure the surgery all over again. I healed for a bit...then went right back to working, but on a more limited basis. Now, the tumor has started to grow again. I just got home from radiation treatment and am in recovery mode again. But I push myself just enough so I don't end up back in bed. There is a part of me that questions whether or not any of this was a good idea. But there is something inside that doesn't want to stop. I am now seventy-three and am still learning, still growing, still doing. Like you, I'm not saying this would be how everyone should handle medicaL setbacks. I think there are times when it could actually be harmful. But I think we all need to push and find the boundaries rather than learn helplessness.
Wow what a story, thank you so much for sharing, just goes to show how and why it's so important to not give up and push ourselves ❤️ wishing you a good recovery 💞
I've found this to be true in the emotional/mental realm as well.
The first time I went dancing after separating from a long-term relationship with someone who spent the whole time making me feel bad for liking to dance, I had a panic attack in the bathroom.
So, I purposely went again a couple weeks later. Three hours before it was time to head out to the venue, I started feeling really anxious again.
So, I kept an eye on it. When I arrived, before I went inside, I sat in my car and paid attention to my breathing for several minutes and just went slow.
Why should someone else's hangups ruin what I love for me? If I want to do those things, I have to *do* them until they become comfortable and fun again. And it's worked. Now dancing feels good again, and so do all the other things I had quit doing for the same reason.
Run towards what you want until it's not scary anymore.
Martha Beck has a similar saying that goes something like “If you want something, move towards it. If you want something and it scares you, run towards it as fast as you can.”
Ironically, I’ve found the danger is where the security is. And conversely, the comfort is where the danger lies. A lack of drive, that manifests as indolence, has typically bitten me in the arse. I find the absence of all anxiety is indicative of too much control of the parameters of my life and too little excitement. I can’t help thinking that if I took more chances I’d still be married.
I understand this theory (in theory at least). I only wish it were true for all things health related.
My iatrogenic CSF leak (have had for 4+ years) is one of those conditions which if I push myself, I get much sicker for weeks.
I do however, push towards living as normal a life as I am able to given the limitations of modern day medicine.
Chris, I'm just nodding my head as I'm reading this. As an RN of almost 30 years, I don't have insurance because I don't go to doctors 😉 when I turned 65 I'll have Medicare, which I won't be using.
I have a company in Florida that takes cash only and you pay based on your age and office visits are included things like EKGs and certain things - no charge. The lab costs are their cost plus 3 bucks to discard the needle as a hazardous waste.
I chose that way, because not only are they "medical", but they are holistic. That's what I am. Don't ask me how I worked in the Sick Care industry for almost 30 years in the hospital as an ICU nurse and travel nursing.
OK, well I'll tell you anyway. I did it to change the system which unfortunately didn't happen. However, I was able to change one life at a time or even many in one day, including educating physicians on alternative and natural health.
Got sick one time when I was 52 and got pneumonia. That was the last time I used antibiotics. I had such a severe reaction. I went into a heart dysrhythmia and the. steroids for inflammation in my lungs caused bruising on my body and I said that's it, got rid of everything and went total holistic. The "system" had told me if I didn't go to the hospital, I was going to die. I said I'll die on my 10 acres in the country before I ever go to a hospital.
While using mainstream sick care, I suffered about 2 1/2 weeks and almost died and when I switched over to completely holistic means using essential oils, herbs, and food based supplements- I was better in four days. Just had a little lingering cough.
If the USDA, FDA, WHO and all affiliated entities say something is good for you, I pretty much believe and live the opposite 💯
Not only did your story at home for me personally, but professionally. I'm just thankful I'm no longer in that system.
So as you titled the article, that's what I do- I run towards the danger 🏃🏻♀️
The woman we're talking about here is Sarah Polley, most recently known for writing & directing the film 'Women Talking'; you may also have encountered her as the lead in 'Road to Avonlea' back in the nineties!
Thanks for this I was wondering who it was! I want to read more about her story 🙂
I've lived a life of extremes up until this point, so I'm working on balancing myself out. Often that means pushing myself out of my comfort zone by doing more, like seeing people when I feel safer isolating myself, or doing things I never thought I could. But more often these days it's choosing to lean into the discomfort of not doing things. Sitting in silence for a bit without a device to distract me, or going for a walk without headphones. The latter is usually much harder!
I like this! Coincidentally, I'm recovering from a minor concussion. Going on my first run tomorrow :)
I fight through my pain and I continue to walk every day even though some days I feel like absolute crap.
My partner’s life philosophy can basically be summed up as “run towards the danger,” and as someone who’s historically tended towards the opposite, his influence on me in the 4+ years we’ve been together has been as profound as it is (sometimes) infuriating! :)
My SIL used to run the vacuum (daily) around her sleeping toddlers and babies to make them noise tolerant.
Learned helplessness is a real thing. Run toward the (perceived) danger and reap the benefits of a full and fulfilled life.
Would highly recommend reading the book ... Run Towards the Danger by Sarah Polley.
Thanks so much for sharing this, Chris. I'm recovering from a concussion and this is a great reminder. So much easier to avoid than move towards that which scares us. This also reminds me of the Buddhist meditation practice of Tonglen where we breathe in or draw to ourselves all that we find challenging and frightening. A very gentle practice, like touching a soap bubble with a feather as Pema Chodron says. And finding that sweet spot of moving towards and resting in stillness.
I have been overcoming (slowly) a shoulder and Biceps tendon issue in exactly this way. Just have to feel out the degree of pain each week and tweak as I go.
It's a bit like the way to handle all kinds of mysterious pains and problems that are not from a real injury (TMS) from Dr. Sarno