Over the weekend, our friend SHU had a very scary experience while running a race. Her story is here. She didn’t do anything wrong, and had no way of knowing she had this underlying condition. She got up that morning to run a race, and ended up in the hospital. This was a potentially life threatening situation, and we’re all so glad she’s okay.
This could happen to any of us- probably not this specific condition- it’s quite rare- but any one of us could have our lives changed in an instant. Facing life or death situations makes our current political situation seem NOT QUITE as important. And… maybe it really will work out in the end.
There are obvious drawbacks to thinking that way. We could look at Germany and say “Hey, that whole Nazi thing really worked itself out! It wasn’t such a big deal, in the larger scheme of things.” No, we have to care about what happens. But just for a day or two I’m taking a step back and appreciating the fact that my friends and family are alive and healthy.
Top photo is the mug from my Secret Santa, Birchie!
8 Responses
Yeah, the political stuff is really hard right now. I had dinner with my Republican friend last week, and she told me she has some kind of nodules or growths on her liver that she has to get figured out, and her son’s kidneys may be starting to fail, and while I cannot stand her politics she has been my friend for about 47 years and I can’t bear the idea of anything happening to her.
I went over and read SHU’s post, how terrifying! Thank goodness there were medical tents and that she got help when she needed it. What if she had been on a long quiet run alone? SCARY.
I read Shu’s ordeal and my god, it really puts things into perspective. Things can change in an instant (although I truly hope Shu is going to be ok and continue running!).
That’s really scary. A friend of mine discovered her hip had fractured half-way through a marathon and I thought that was bad enough. As to the politial situation, I’m trying to avoid the news as it makes me feel panicky. But now my own political party here in the UK is cutting foreign aid and considering cutting welfare and I’m going to have to mobilise around that of course, urgh. Love to you and your friend.
That is very scary. Hopefully it’s nothing serious. It could happen to any of us.
I am with you Jenny. Sarah’s issue is affecting me. For two days I felt pressure on my chest, anxiety driven. I hope she gets the diagnosis and treatment plan soon.
Yes, any of us could have our lives changed in an instant, and the reality is that everyone of us will. That’s why it’s so important to appreciate what we have, and to savor the small moments. Oh wait Elisabeth was ahead of us with Project FIG.
We do have to care about world events, but as much as possible I would advocate for not letting them make us miserable. Yes support the causes that you care about, yes look for ways to “think globally act locally”, yes take a second to say “that’s messed up”, and yes yes yes vote, but other than that it’s out of our hands.
It’s really a balance. Obviously we need to care about what’s going on in the world BUT our individual worlds are really important too. All our individual worlds make up the world. What a scary thing to have happened, it is a good reminder, as you have been saying, that every day counts. If someone so young and healthy (I mean, how incredibly healthy is Sarah!!!) could be so affected by a heart condition, well, anything can happen any time.
That’s so scary, and health issues really put things into perspective! Hopefully everything is ok.
The political situation is just getting to be too much, and it’s exacerbating my anxiety around every day issues. I wish I could just go off the grid somewhere for like a month and forget about all these problems!