Category Archives: happiness

community, happiness, health, shoulder surgery, well-being, wellness

Rotator Cuff Surgery – What They Don’t Tell You!!

1 Comment

I was talking to a friend the other day who was told she had to have rotator cuff surgery.  Some folks say, “Don’t do it” and others say, “Go for it”.  She asked me what do I say?  She knows I had it done this past year.

 

I say, “Are you in pain?  Is it affecting your quality of life?  Can you still do the things that make you happy without pain?”  If you say yes to pain, quality of life being affected and not being able to do things you love, then I believe it is worth doing.  No matter how old you are. 

 

The reason for my response is because of the quality of your life.  If you can’t do things you love and could easily do before, the question then becomes are you going to limit yourself for the rest of your life?  Are you going to deny yourself those things that give you pleasure? 

 

It is NOT easy.  I’ll tell you that up front.  Doctors or someone else might tell you it is.  NO, it is not.  Realistically, depending on the severity of the damage in your shoulder and your age, you can PLAN on not having the use of that arm at all for 6-8 weeks.  After that, you will have minimal range of motion and no strength for 4-6 months.  These factors depend on what the surgeon did and your age.  Why?  Because it will affect how quickly you recover. 

 

I’m not trying to worry you; but I wish someone had honestly told me what to expect.  I might not have gotten as depressed over the length of my recovery time if they had.  I might have had more patience with the time it was taking to get my strength back.  I might have had more patience with myself and the inability to do things I could do easily beforehand.  I might have been better prepared for the pain.

 

So what can I tell you that will help?  This too will pass! 

 

You are about to learn how to receive…how to receive help from friends and family; how to receive some ‘downtime’ and R&R; how to receive the blessings of something to occupy your mind while your body is recuperating; how to learn patience with yourself and others.

 

PLAN AHEAD

 

If this is your dominant hand/arm, as it was in my case, you need to plan ahead.  If it is your other arm/shoulder, it is easier but some of these tips are still applicable for you. 

 

Okay, what can you do?              

See the next post …

 

alternative healthcare, community, happiness, passion, tribe

Community

Leave a comment

Align yourself with the right people … your community … your tribe.

 

“You want to go fast- go alone!  You want to go far, go together.”  African Proverb

 

So many of us know who our people/tribe are and already have extended agreements and sharing that occurs with them on a regular basis.

 

There are others of course (many others) who don’t think ‘outside the box’ of family.  When someone mentions people or tribe to them, they immediately think of family, maybe childhood friends or schoolmates.  And I’m not saying these people are not part of your tribe or community.  They certainly can be.

 

Community can mean much more than that though.

 

I’m not saying those people are not important, of course they are if you think so.  Although, we were placed in those groupings. Whether we were born into them or assigned them in sports, school, church or other organized social groups.

 

What I’m talking about here is more about your ‘chosen’ tribe or community.  For instance, on my spiritual or transformational journey, I have met and aligned with people from all over the world.  Do you know what I’m referring to?

 

Sure you do.  You know the ones I’m talking about!  When you meet them, you know them.  Your thought is my sister!  My brother!  You might even express, “I know we’ve met before.”  At some point, you might even say, “it must be past life” when neither of you can figure out the details.

 

I’m inviting us to talk about community today.  Do you have an extended community?  Tribe?

Are there people you share information with and healing work?

Do they consist of family members?  Or are they people you’ve met on your journey?

 

If you have an active community in your life, embrace them more deeply.  If you don’t have one that reflects your passion, then it is time to find them!

 

When we have a tribe that reflects or shares our passion for living or our dream, then it’s an invitation to move forward with the manifestation of that in our life.  It’s a chance to have support of our dream, vs. the naysayers who don’t believe in it.  The ones who are trying to tell us what a waste of time it is.  That we are not being responsible.

 

Responsible – the ability to respond.  I find I’m much more able to respond in alignment with who I am when I have support from my tribe to do so.  When I’m conflicted or unsure or just need prayers, I can contact them and say that is what I need.  They step up and offer it freely.

 

The cosmos is supporting those kinds of relationships in our lives now to move forward in the manifestation of more happiness.  I don’t know about you, but I can use all the happiness I can think of … and more … to infinity and beyond.  I believe part of the struggle comes from being separate or put into silos of aloneness.

 

Our ancestors had the right idea.  They were organized into communities and tribes.  It took a village to raise a child.  Entire tribes migrated with the seasons based on the availability of physical support for their health, happiness and well-being in the environments where they lived.  Decisions were made based on agreement and conversation.  Each community had a healer and a leader who shared wisdom and listened to the rest of the tribe.

 

When did we become so isolated?  Do you feel that way sometimes?  I know I do.  Sometimes aloneness is stifling and other times necessary.  How do you balance individuality with community?  I would love to hear your thoughts on this.