It's all About Choice
October 16, 2008
I'm in the midst of several translations projects, all of which have the
same deadline—yesterday. (See, a monastics life is not that different from
those of laypeople!) So this entry will be short and simple.
For those who have been reading the blog, you know I am having vocal cord
problems. The pain is pretty much gone but I have to be very careful of what I
eat: no fried, salty, acidic, or spicy foods. My voice is getting better, but I
still cannot lecture or talk for long. I also have a thyroid problem, which is
easily controlled by thyroid medicine. But I should not eat rice other than
basmati and shouldn't eat soy products because they inhibit the thyroid
medicine and that causes other problems. So I shouldn't eat regular rice, soy
products, or fried, spicy, acidic, or salty foods. This is a bit of a problem
because I live in a community and there's a fair amount of those foods at
mealtimes. I also have a few other medical-type problems.
Then this morning I managed to pinch that pesky nerve in my back that occasionally
gives me trouble, and I don't have any of my heat packs here. Plus it's a rainy, chilly day. So my back and
leg hurt. And I'm walking quite slowly. I prefer to think of it as
"dignified," although the occasional wince does seem to diminish my
dignified conceit.
So I'm tired from having my thyroid medicine partially negated, I have a
circulation problem that requires one treatment that is the direct opposite of
the treatment for what causes the vocal cord scaring, my arm hurts from
spending much more time on the computer since I can't talk much, I can't figure
out what to eat, and I'm in pain. And I have to chuckle about it. (Must be
those Jewish genes.;-))
And Buddhism.
I could complain, but frankly after I pinched that nerve, I figured I had
nothing to complain about. It's karma. Or karmic creditors. Or just plain aging
as the Buddha said when he spoke of the eight sufferings we undergo. Or a
combination of everything. But whatever the causes, they could have hit me all at
once with one ailment. But I'm lucky. I've got a bunch of minor ailments on a
list that does seem determined to grow longer.
But so far, I'm choosing not to be frustrated or angry or depressed. I
choose to try to understand and look for something to be grateful for. And I am
very grateful that my difficulties seem to be spread around so that there isn't
that one debilitating illness or injury that would be serious. And I know that
if I do not become frustrated or angry or depressed, I'll be able to pay off
the karmic debts that have contributed to my problems.
So, I consider myself to be very fortunate.
And that means that I'm still smiling.
Reader Comments (3)
Today my ear lobes feel great.