As I sit here watching the river rush past, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I’ll admit, my photography skills aren’t at their peak right now—I didn’t do a great job of capturing the view for you—but the view itself is doing wonders for my soul.
I’m currently in wait-and-see mode as my detached retina heals, and it’s a strange place to be. I know many of you have faced similar “life-altering” moments—those unexpected illnesses or injuries that pull the emergency brake on your business. You’re suddenly left wondering: What the heck am I going to do with myself if I can’t work?
It’s not quite the same as the loss or caregiving role, where we find ourselves (and our time) consumed by long checklists of “to do’s”, managing others or appointments, and perhaps grief. This is more of a “forced rest” – something completely foreign to me. Right now I’m under strict orders – no driving, no impact exercise, no lifting, no bending over – while my eye heals.
The Art of Just “Being”
In our world, we are so addicted to the busy work of “doing” that sometimes we forget to be a human “being”. This forced pause has reminded me that there is immense value in just being.
It isn’t often we get permission to simply sit. I’m leaning into that right now through:
- Meditation: Clearing the mental clutter.
- Journaling: Getting the thoughts out of my head and onto paper.
- Learning: I have a course I’m finally diving into.
Signs of Progress (The Yellow Phase)
For those of you following the “eye-saga” that started in Mexico, the healing is moving in the right direction! The white of my eye has been a window to the progress. Post surgery, it started as a scary, deep red, then moved into a shade of purple, and now? It’s yellow. In the world of bruising, yellow means I’m on the right side of this recovery. Still, cautiously optimistic.
The biggest win? Today, the “curtain” in my left eye dropped to about the halfway mark. Which means about 20% sight, somewhat sporadic and blotchy. That is a massive improvement! While I’m not quite ready to jump back into working full-time this week, I’m setting my sights on next week to get back to a light coaching schedule.
I’m curious: Have you ever been forced to stop and “just be”?
How did you handle the transition from the fast lane to the waiting room? I know many of you have battled cancer, heart attacks, and a multitude of debilitating diseases. This is my first of any kind, my first surgery. I’d love to hear your experience.
I’ll see you all very soon (hopefully with both eyes wide open!).
4 Responses
Jane
10 plus years ago I also had a detached retina so I certainly relate! Treat your recovery plan with the greatest of respect and I trust you will be fine. I am in the financial services industry and thus this is the first I’ve heard of this journey for you as the RRSP deadline and tax slips have been keeping me busy.
You are certainly correct when forced to stop it provokes thought, when I was 2 weeks after surgery a man came down the hallway with his patch still on his eye, hence he was 1 week out. Coincidentally we worked in the same industry and the same building. He obviously could barely see so I called out to him and he sat beside me and we shared our story while our wives who’d never met did the same. He told me he while laying face down wondered, if he lost his sight would he want to continue living, serious introspection. Long story short, he sold his house, sold his financial planning practice, his wife retired from nursing and they moved to Spain. 10 years later he leads bicycle tours and life is good! Massive change!!
I still work as a financial advisor with a mature practice and am speaking as another business. Doing it quietly in the shadows and starting to gain some nice traction.
Thanks for sharing and all the best.
Wow, that’s some pretty big change following the introspection. Thanks for sharing Rob.
About eight years ago, I was diagnosed a lumbar compression fracture as a result of multiple myeloma – another dead-stop moment in my life. From diagnosis through treatment to a wheelchair, and then some, everything was in there. It took alot of emotional excavation, recognising that all my awards, accolades, certificates and accomplishments all of a sudden meant nothing! The question was – NOW WHAT? Over time it has shown me tat there is a whole lt more to life than there ever was, except I never gave myself permission for it. The daily rat race, the busyness, the obligations, all that stopped me from actually living. Now, after lengthy evaluations, I am in finally doing something about that. I am creating something which I can share with everybody, regardless of their affliction, and to make their life more fulfilling. No money, no schedule, no obligation (other then to the self). The only catch is, THEY HAVE TO DO IT! Despite everything, life is great agaian!
I look at this (pun intended) retina detachment as a pretty small interruption compared to cancer, But perhaps there are some similarities in terms of the introspection and asking “am I happy with my life”? And “what would I do if…..?” Glad you made it through!