A Painful Lesson

04 Sep 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

A Painful LessonProbably as a result of all the hedge cutting this weekend, my back is giving me trouble again. It’s been a tough day, trying to catch up with the lost days from last week, and having the pain didn’t help much.

Tonight, Bumble rang to see how I was, and was keen to help me resolve my back problem. She has a deal of experience in dealing with disability, so she does know what helps and what doesn’t.

I had taken a couple of paracetamol, rubbed some Voltarol gel on the small of my back and gone to bed, as lying down seemed to help ease the pain. But I think the combination of the discomfort and the tiring day in the office had conspired to put me in a pretty low life-state.

I was less than grateful for the advice, which is shameful. After she put the phone down I felt really bad about things. I needed to sort myself out, maybe even actually take some of the advice on board.

So I got up, went for a short walk around the quay and had a hot shower when I got back home. Then I chanted, and my life-state seemed to rise with every repetition of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.

I would like to think that my blog helps others by giving out a positive message, but I also think it is important to be honest. So tonight I have to be honest and say that this evening, when Bumble rang, was a definite step backwards.

The only consolation is, that after a deal of soul-searching and chanting, I was able to look at things from a more positive viewpoint. I am sorry to disappoint the people who read my blog regularly, but I am heartened that another challenge has been met, and another important lesson learned.

Olympic Recuperation

05 Aug 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , ,

Usain BoltI have no idea why, but Bumble woke with a bad back this morning. Maybe we stayed in bed too long, listening to the rain lashing down outside. Maybe it was the result of our abdominal exercises yesterday morning, who knows. Whatever the reason, she was in no fit state to be her usual busy bee self, and it showed.

She was a proper grump. She really isn’t good at sitting still for more than a couple of minutes at the best of times. But having a sore back, the result of some sort of muscular spasm, really didn’t help her mood at all.

Fortunately there were a ton of things that needed doing indoors, so we lit a fire, put the Olympics on the telly and hunkered down in the lounge for a recuperative afternoon and evening.

And there was some great stuff on too. Ben Ainslie winning a gold medal in the sailing, Andy Murray doing the same in the tennis and Usain Bolt breaking the Olympic record to finish first in the men’s 100m final in an amazing 9.63 seconds.

The day few by. With all the great telly, coupled with some PC housekeeping, a bit of digital photography and a very tasty veggie pasta dish thrown in for good measure, it was time for bed in no time.

So a whole bunch of challenges sorted out in a single day. Behavioural for B, mental for me and physical for the athletes. Although Bumble and I didn’t get a medal, we both did a sterling job and that brings its own rewards.

Disappointment

27 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Determination_BoulderThe people who are closest to us are the people we can hurt the most. With the best will in the world and with the very best intentions, a wrong word or deed can sometimes cause them a whole world of pain.

Being in the position of being responsible for supporting someone is a full time role, there’s no time off, no period during which one can let things slide. So when a conversation suddenly goes awry because of a thoughtless comment or reaction, the disappointment can be felt by both sides.

The result is like someone who is distracted whilst trying to push a boulder uphill. They have worked tirelessly to get it higher and higher up the hill. But the instant they relax their effort, or take their eye off the ball, the boulder starts back down to the bottom again.

In the same way, the trust and relationship you have worked so hard to nurture can suddenly takes a U turn and you can find yourself back where you were. Not only is that disappointing, but it’s quite possible that the damage caused could change things forever.

So be mindful. If you are putting yourself in a position where your support is important, be aware of the responsibility it entails. Be self-aware, show determination, compassion and resilience and be prepared to keep on giving, no matter what the circumstances.

Be Gentle On Yourself

14 Jun 2012 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

Be Gentle On YourselfWhen you start changing things through practice or self-awareness, you may well encounter something that feels like a negative reaction. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction and they can sometimes be rather unexpected in nature.

As we try to improve ourselves, we change the way we react with the world and those around us. Sometimes the world isn’t quite ready for that change and it can make for uncomfortable situations. Sometimes we aren’t quite as well prepared for the changes as we would like to think we are either.

The most important thing to remember is, that as you change, your environment must change too. The two fit each other exactly, like a hand in a glove. So even though the ride might get a little bumpy at times, those times can be seen as confirmation that the changes in you are really taking place, so be resolute and determined.

Just remember to add a little wisdom and compassion into the mix too. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you find aspects that cause you pain, the recognition of our faults is the starting point for improvement.

A Right Pain In The Neck

07 May 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

A Right Pain In The NeckBy this morning we were supposed to have ticked all the boxes on the to-do list and had planned to take a trip to Bristol Zoo with Charlotte, Rob and the boys, if the weather was dry. So apart from the fact that there were still unfinished items on the list and that it was raining cats and dogs intermittently, Bumble had a very sore neck, the result of overdoing the manual work during the path construction.

A day that was going to be filled with the wonder of beautiful animals and the fun of being with C & R and the three boys, turned into one of pain and anguish. The neck problem is a legacy of a whiplash injury many years ago, but B, being B, just has to get involved with the lifting and carrying, despite being a bit prone to aches, pains and injuries.

Being the real trooper she is, she insisted on coming with me to get a few things from the shops, when she should really have been tucked up, snug and warm, in bed, being pampered by yours truly. Not a chance really, though I did manage to get her to rest when we got back home. and I think the toasted cinnamon and raisin bagel and mug of hot tea was pretty well received.

We can both learn lessons from the episode. B has to learn to take things a little bit easier when it comes to heavy manual work. She’s no old granny, although she is a granny, but nor is she the spring chicken she might like to think she is. I have to learn to look out for, and after her, though sadly I didn’t know about the neck injury until today.

Fortunately the pain is subsiding, with the help of a few painkillers. But the whole debacle could so easily avoided if we had both taken a large dose of wisdom before we started the project. It won’t happen again, I’ll see to that.

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