“The more that you can accept that the way you’re feeling is part of your healing process and is something that is felt by thousands of patients across the country, the more honest you can be with your feelings.” Lumping me with thousands of other patients feeling their pain all at once all over the country relieves me of the ill-fitting suit of “individuality” I’ve been wearing for seventy-plus years, for once a welcome change.
When I get to the disclaimer, a very non-scholarly bit of truth-telling, I finally start to cry and keep on crying. “After all, we are writing this post for a reason: because feeling depressed after surgery is a thing.” IT’S A THING! IT’S A THING! I knew it. I knew it. I just knew it.
“Know that you are not alone or failing because you feel the way that you do. You’ve gone through enough as it is, you don’t need to complicate anything further by avoiding how you feel or being mad at yourself.”
I feel you Marilyn. There is so much more I could say about this topic. I wrote about it in length in my book. And my many disappointing bouts with doctors/ surgeons who didn’t treat me like a human being. I am doing all I can to share my experiences and yogic wisdom to help others feel less alone.
I will add, too, in a less public space than a Note, that I'm touched that you did teleport to me with this post. I will return to the meditation, and I wish so much I could take one of your yoga clinics :-) I've done various Iyengar practices for years, on and off, and approach seems perfect to me. In particular, I was struck by your anecdote about the group of tall students who said they felt small. I've been doing some writing about finding more room for myself, something that may evolve into my next post. To be continued :-)
Oh Martha, how much I love this!! We inspire each other!! And yes, when reading your beautiful essay I thought, if only I could place my hands on her back and ask her to breathe into my hands. Maybe I will have to make another video and explain how to do this in partnership with a trusted person. A central theme to my yoga teaching is to encourage my students to allow themselves to take up space, and make themselves “big”! To be continued indeed. I hope your back, and you, are feeling better.
I hope you will read my latest post. My Substack is called lessons from the horses mouth in this post, “ acceptance: your situation is only temporary“ what I really talk about is my husband‘s recent knee replacement surgery and my hip replacement surgery a year ago and how I have struggled with and was finally able to heal from that. I would be very interested in reading your work.
Thanks for relating to the topic of pain.
“The more that you can accept that the way you’re feeling is part of your healing process and is something that is felt by thousands of patients across the country, the more honest you can be with your feelings.” Lumping me with thousands of other patients feeling their pain all at once all over the country relieves me of the ill-fitting suit of “individuality” I’ve been wearing for seventy-plus years, for once a welcome change.
When I get to the disclaimer, a very non-scholarly bit of truth-telling, I finally start to cry and keep on crying. “After all, we are writing this post for a reason: because feeling depressed after surgery is a thing.” IT’S A THING! IT’S A THING! I knew it. I knew it. I just knew it.
“Know that you are not alone or failing because you feel the way that you do. You’ve gone through enough as it is, you don’t need to complicate anything further by avoiding how you feel or being mad at yourself.”
Quotations courtesy Barvadon.com
I feel you Marilyn. There is so much more I could say about this topic. I wrote about it in length in my book. And my many disappointing bouts with doctors/ surgeons who didn’t treat me like a human being. I am doing all I can to share my experiences and yogic wisdom to help others feel less alone.
It’s so needed.🙏🏼❤️
I will add, too, in a less public space than a Note, that I'm touched that you did teleport to me with this post. I will return to the meditation, and I wish so much I could take one of your yoga clinics :-) I've done various Iyengar practices for years, on and off, and approach seems perfect to me. In particular, I was struck by your anecdote about the group of tall students who said they felt small. I've been doing some writing about finding more room for myself, something that may evolve into my next post. To be continued :-)
Oh Martha, how much I love this!! We inspire each other!! And yes, when reading your beautiful essay I thought, if only I could place my hands on her back and ask her to breathe into my hands. Maybe I will have to make another video and explain how to do this in partnership with a trusted person. A central theme to my yoga teaching is to encourage my students to allow themselves to take up space, and make themselves “big”! To be continued indeed. I hope your back, and you, are feeling better.
I really like the idea of a practice based on making ourselves big! And yes, I am feeling better, although still proceeding cautiously.
I love this meditation, which connects deeply with the healing I've been doing from my back injury. Thank you, Imola!
I have had to befriend fear too, and no one really wants to do that either.🥹
Pain, your friend?
It can be, but of course I don’t wish pain on anyone! This is why I prefer “teacher”.
I hope you will read my latest post. My Substack is called lessons from the horses mouth in this post, “ acceptance: your situation is only temporary“ what I really talk about is my husband‘s recent knee replacement surgery and my hip replacement surgery a year ago and how I have struggled with and was finally able to heal from that. I would be very interested in reading your work.