Life After Reaching the Top

Do you remember my story from yesterday, making it to the top of a difficult climb with a roof followed by an unexpectedly difficult incline? It took me many attempts before that achievement, falling but still able to go on, thanks to the rope.

That climb was mid-January. As February began, I felt the toll from winter’s busy times. Guess what? I climbed again recently (different gym), and it was my worst climbing session ever. I did well at first, with a couple of beautiful 5.10 climbs (If you’re not familiar with the climbing grading system: 5.5 is pretty easy; 5.10 can be quite challenging, and 5.12 would take more strength training and practice than I can contemplate.) But these two nice climbs killed my forearms and I had no stamina for the rest of the session. In a word, I was (excuse my English, because you’ll never hear me excuse my French) pooped.

No wonder. I had a full clinic schedule that week, with additional meetings and an evening presentation, and I also taught Tai-Chi and did Shiatsu that same morning, and was up for a concert after that. Which reminds me of the saying: “do what I say, not what I do”. Or from my limited recollection of high school Latin: “medice curate ipsum” (aka doctor, cure yourself first). I missed the very point I was trying to get across in my climbing stories: “Get your rest” … hmmm!

And my digestion went off again. So I reviewed my “Important versus Urgent” time management matrix, so that I can have more down time. Now, I am shedding off of my immediate schedule all that is not both important and urgent. The important but not urgent will be for the coming weeks. As for the neither important nor urgent items, maybe they are not meant to happen…  But don’t get me wrong, having fun is important and stays in the mix!

How do I decide which activities are important, keeping me safe and healthy?

Soon I’ll elaborate on the safety rope idea some more, and how it applies to health and stamina.

That’s for next time, stay tuned!

Sincèrement, et bonne santé!

Patricia

Over the Roof: We Made it!

I just can’t believe it: we all made it through the holiday season and we’re already surfing the 2013 wave! I hope you had it safe and happy so far!

And what’s more, after a few additional attempts this January, I made it to the top of the climb I talked about last year. Without falling! (If you missed reading about my 2012 climbing adventures and how it gave me insight into personal health, catch up at my blog below)

Want to see my climb?

             http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYjRR8_b7VU

I even learned things while putting this video together, mainly that YouTube has an amazing music recognition feature and did not allow my first choice of music mix to go public, even with credits. Yes, YouTube had a few warnings for me, uh, so much for my ignorance of music copyrights – no “We are the Champions” at the end, so excuse the open source music.

Regarding the climb itself, every single time before that filmed attempt, I fell.

Did you notice that short break at 1:10 on the video timer, taking my time and relaxing my arm down? That’s critical. I don’t really need rest at this stage, I am still fresh. But it saves me from my usual fall at 2:10. No fall this time!

That roof at 1:30-2:00 is like going through the holiday season: strenuous. And the break at 1:10? That is the break I am going to take around Halloween 2013 that’s going to pay off for me next year, and give me enough steam to surf into Christmas through to February.

In any case, resting when needed or falling when there is no other choice – neither is the end of the world. Not if we have a safety rope.

There’s more to my story, though: coming soon!

It feels good to be back writing! Stay tuned!

Sincèrement, et bonne santé!

Patricia

No Ordinary Day

I’ve learnt from a long–time Tai-Chi student to count my blessings every single day.  But the day before yesterday was no ordinary day, and I was at a loss as to how to count those blessings.

An email in the morning told me that one of my patients has left our world.  

Late at night I read on Facebook that my very good friend’s father’s “suffering is over now”.

It’s probably a cultural or language thing, but I have the greatest difficulty using the word here.  In French , “trépasser” can mean to pass away, so you can imagine how stunned I was when I first saw a typical North American sign, the one that says:  “No trespassing beyond this point”.  Trespassing aka passing away is about going beyond, or passing across. Or not doing so for those who stay behind…

So as I am staying on this side of the sign, how many blessings can I count today?

My occupation stimulates me.  Both the job and the people.  I have a patient whose laughter sounds like crystal.  Many that keep me on my toes, numerous that make me think and ponder profound subjects about life.  People usually come with their challenges and leave feeling lighter and better spirited.  We’ve shared good laughter.  One person’s blue eyes looks to me like a deep blue sea - something that holds your gaze while your mind turns meditative, like when watching the moon, or the flames of a camp fire.  My Tai-Chi students teach me everyday how to experience more free flow in life, so that I may become a little bit of a better person.  The person counting her blessings is a chronic pain sufferer.  She told me that she would like to be remembered as a fountain of love.  That left me speechless and is imprinted in me and is a soothing life experience each time I see her.  And I have great teachers.  And wonderful friends.

Not to mention family - I dearly love my mother, siblings, nephews and nieces, cousins, uncles & aunts.

So my heart aches for my friend and her family now.

And I can’t imagine how my patient’s parents, husband and little 4 year-old daughter must feel.  She was living grace, a super sensitive person always pondering what’s right and wrong because she was so caring.  She was 35 and her daughter-to-be was about to turn 7 months old.

I lost count.  I have faith that where they rest is only infinity.