My back hurts. It hurts like it’s never hurt before.
Those younger than me threaten to call the “WHAmbulance” for me. Dial Whine-one-one! Those older say it’s only going to get worse from here on out. “When you get to my age,” a certain Mad River Glen Ski Patroller mused, “you stop worrying about the pain, because sure enough, something else will start to hurt even more and distract you. There’s always something.”
Great. Just what I want to hear.
I’m a pretty independent person. I was never very good at team sports. I am a self-teacher and a self-healer. I don’t need you to carry any of my ski gear or my groceries and I can run this party all by my lonesome. “I’ve got it, I’ve got it…”
Except that now with my back out, simple things like sitting up in bed are such daunting tasks that my to-do list seems like you could see if from the moon: carry wood, mail package to sister, take xmas decorations up to attic, shovel roof, fold laundry, take out the garbage. Ouch, ouch, ouch!!
And while I’m surveying my to-do list and trying to think of creative approaches to accomplishing my goals, I am simultaneously trying to find equally creative ways to rally a volunteer crew to help out with the Stark Mountain Foundation’s Valentine’s Gala. As much as I want to do the whole thing myself, there are many logistical hurdles like how, when and where to inflate 400 balloons [cue music]. It’s not really my nature to ask for help, however, even if my back is healed and I feel like a 25 year old, I still won’t be able to do it all solo.
My creative approach to fixing my aches has included one heckova killer deep tissue massage from Mad River Massage. Holy Macaroni do I feel better today than yesterday! The pain is still there, but it’s “good pain.” I know that this pain will only make me feel better in the long run. I can handle it, because I know it will make everything better.
So Good Pain can come from my massage therapist beating me up, from my ego finally succumbing and letting me miss a day of skiing, or by giving up my Do-it-yourself ideals and simply asking for help. I’m up for the challenge, even if I find it challenging to stand up.
If you are interested in helping with the SMF’s Valentine’s Gala, or if you’d like to volunteer to carry some wood for me, let me know!
thanks!
