Perspective

I hear my Tai Chi instructor saying this phrase "be alive" in every class. He wants us to be active in our movement. He want us to be "in" our bodies and not take movement for granted. He informed us that we need to feel this way when we are at class, sitting at a computer or walking through the mall. We need to be in tune with our body and how it functions. I am trying to tune myself in. It is easy to rush through the day and take things for granted. This week I was reminded how important it is to be grateful for each day.

My sister is having peroneal tendon surgery on Monday. She basically wore out the peroneal tendon in her ankle from overuse. K goes to the gym five days a week and on the weekend she bikes, hikes or snowshoes. She is having a difficult time with her approaching surgery. K will be in a non-removable boot for four to six weeks. She will be on crutches for four weeks. I am trying to help her because I know what it is like walking into the hospital carrying a brace and crutches and leaving the hospital using them. I let K borrow my crutches and gave her a quick lesson. As my Irish grandfather would always say "The only way to get through something is to go through it." K is going to be ok. Here she is hiking at her favorite place, the Grand Canyon.

My sixty-two year old Aunt passed out and was taken to the hospital. Her heart stopped and a surgeon had to perform emergency surgery. The inserted a pace-maker and she is going to be ok.

Then a phone call.

A family friend called and told us her 19 year old grandson died. He was the passenger in a car accident. The teenagers slid on black ice. They got out of the car to examine the damage. An oncoming car did not see them and hit the young man. He was in a coma for two weeks before he died.

Then perspective.