What We Take for Granted

I’m sure that there is a lot we take for granted every day. If we live in a house, have clean water, electricity that functions properly, food to put on the table, we should consider ourselves lucky, and I’m sure most of us don’t give those things a second thought. If we don’t have the stress of providing or accessing those things, we probably take them for granted. But that’s not what I’m talking about today. I’m talking about a more personal thing we probably take for granted either now or at some point during our lives. That is our health and our bodies. If we are still on the younger side, are physically active, in shape, and can move relatively easily, then we probably take our bodies for granted. We don’t often consider on a daily basis that our bodies can break, they can get worn down, and as we age, a minor wrong move or tweak can set us up for pain for days or even weeks. This has happened twice within the past year for me, one way worse than the other, although I must say the frequency that it happens with minor things is increasing as I age.

Almost a year ago, I fell off a roof and broke my non-dominant wrist to the point where I needed surgery to get it set properly. I was lucky that only my wrist broke, but it made me realize how much I utilize both hands every day effortlessly when all of a sudden I had only one hand to use. And most recently, just over the weekend, I did something to my lower back where it hurts to do almost anything. Its one of those things we take for granted, walking without pain, bending, sitting, standing, pulling, pushing. Most of us can do those thing with ease when we are in good health. One wrong move, and all of a sudden we are faced with a new reality. It took me months to get my wrist back to where it was. With my back, I’m hoping a few more days and the muscles will heal up. Yet, while I’m in the midst of the pain, I feel what its like for those with chronic pain, the pain that never goes away and leaves them hunched over, or the amputee, or the wheelchair bound. While my pain may never come close to that of others, its a wake up call to not take my body for granted and as I get older, to pay a little more attention and be a little more careful with it so it lasts longer.

Trust me, I’m never going to stop doing what I love, but with certain things, I know now that I will need to slow down, be a little more careful, and take my time. My son may make fun of me now for getting older, but I know I’m not yet that old and still need my body for a long time, so I’ll take it easy when I remember. I will also be a little more cognizant of others who may be in pain as I am privy to it a few times a year now as well. Yes, it can suck getting older, but at the same time, what I don’t take for granted is the time I have here. Every day I seek to enjoy to its fullest, even if pain is setting me back. When I broke my wrist, I was back out hiking 5 miles a day within 2 weeks of surgery. With my back the way it is now, spasming and painful, I’m still up and about, working all day, but taking it slow and wearing a back brace. Getting old can be fun, it just happens to have a little more pain thrown in here and there. So don’t take your body and your health for granted, treat it well, and you will get to enjoy it for a long time still to come.