CindyM
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- Sep 17, 2006
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This is for everyone who feels frantic about their symptoms, or questions if they have the right to ask for help. It is just a bit of my own philosophy, so take it for what it is worth. It may help, or it may not, but I started thinking about this years ago when we were on vacation in Canada.
We were on our way to Ontario, and I decided to get a bit of flavor for the region by taking a lesser highway. I did not know about the canals and locks of the area, so imagine my surprise when the road before me lifted up and a large tanker ship came floating by, close enough it seemed for me to touch. On its deck, dressed in a sailor uniform from France, was a sailor taking a photograph of me with my mouth open. I leaped out of my car and grabbed my camera, but my young son was red-faced.
"Mom," he protested, "People will think we are tourists."
"Honey," I replied, "We are in Ontario, Canada. Our vehicle has license plates from Massachusetts, USA. I think they know we are tourists. And if we cannot act like a tourist at this point in time, then when?"
Years later my daughter was new in her career and recently promoted, The bank she worked for was gathering a group to march in the 4th of July parade. I went along, and met for the first time the friendly folks she works with. We were a subdued group, walking and chatting quietly. Eventually I announced that we should maybe make some noise, so a group of us began singing patriotic songs. When I saw my daughter's discomfort, however, I regretted this. These might be my new friends, but they were her co workers and this was her career.
The next day I told some friends about the experience and they reminded me of something I discovered back on that trip to Canada. "But it was a parade!" Someone said. "If you can't call attention to yourself while matching in a parade, when can you?"
It is all about timing. If you cannot ask for help when faced with a debilitating illness, then when? By contrast, timing is everything. If I got all worked up about my symptoms (some of which felt worse 2 years ago than they do now, BTW,) then I'd have wasted 2 years and not enjoyed the birth of 3 new grandchildren.
At the end of the day, I guess all I can do is prepare for the worst but hope for the best. :-D
We were on our way to Ontario, and I decided to get a bit of flavor for the region by taking a lesser highway. I did not know about the canals and locks of the area, so imagine my surprise when the road before me lifted up and a large tanker ship came floating by, close enough it seemed for me to touch. On its deck, dressed in a sailor uniform from France, was a sailor taking a photograph of me with my mouth open. I leaped out of my car and grabbed my camera, but my young son was red-faced.
"Mom," he protested, "People will think we are tourists."
"Honey," I replied, "We are in Ontario, Canada. Our vehicle has license plates from Massachusetts, USA. I think they know we are tourists. And if we cannot act like a tourist at this point in time, then when?"
Years later my daughter was new in her career and recently promoted, The bank she worked for was gathering a group to march in the 4th of July parade. I went along, and met for the first time the friendly folks she works with. We were a subdued group, walking and chatting quietly. Eventually I announced that we should maybe make some noise, so a group of us began singing patriotic songs. When I saw my daughter's discomfort, however, I regretted this. These might be my new friends, but they were her co workers and this was her career.
The next day I told some friends about the experience and they reminded me of something I discovered back on that trip to Canada. "But it was a parade!" Someone said. "If you can't call attention to yourself while matching in a parade, when can you?"
It is all about timing. If you cannot ask for help when faced with a debilitating illness, then when? By contrast, timing is everything. If I got all worked up about my symptoms (some of which felt worse 2 years ago than they do now, BTW,) then I'd have wasted 2 years and not enjoyed the birth of 3 new grandchildren.
At the end of the day, I guess all I can do is prepare for the worst but hope for the best. :-D