Last week I got in a pretty bad bike accident. Went over handlebars going about 15mph, landed beautifully & got wrecked. Broke both elbows, lost a tooth & left a smear of my face on the road
Luckily first responders were there quickly, as I was lying unable to move in the street
Luckily first responders were there quickly, as I was lying unable to move in the street
My left elbow was dislocated and broken (what they call a “terrible triad” injury) and might not regain full mobility. Apparently this is not the injury you want to have. Physical therapy can be over a year.
Still, the whole experience has made me incredibly grateful. It’s easy to take for granted people around you and things you are used to being able to do for yourself. The first 24 hrs I could barely move either arm.
I couldn’t brush my own teeth or pull my own pants up, and I wasn’t sure if or when I’d be able to. My wife Christine had to help me do basic things like feed myself and wash up. My friends have come over to drive me to the doctor or cook food.
I’m getting lots of time to practice meditating and to observe my own mind. I’m also grateful for all the negative visualization I’ve been doing to prepare myself for times like these.
And I feel very lucky. Things could have been way worse. I’m lucky to be alive. I’m lucky my worse elbow is in my non-dominant hand. Im lucky my right arm had been regaining mobility (1 arm is much better than 0). I’m lucky that I’m in a place with excellent medical care.
It has also been a good reminder to be humble. I’m sure I’ll walk away from this with facial scars. All my life I’ve been a vain person and put way to much thought into my external appearance with others. I think this is God’s gift to me to teach me humility :)
I thought I was invincible but the truth is we are all just fragile bags of water. Life is a passing dream. You can wake up at any time. Be grateful for every moment you have.
