Chronic Heros
03.13.10
I had a unique experience the other day. I was talking to a yoga student before class, and she was telling me that some days it’s just harder to get there, to practice. Was she hinting at a chronic condition?
Either way, I empathized with that. Practicing in the morning, when my RA is flaring up is incredibly challenging. So to encourage her for coming, and to let her know she could nurture herself as much as she needed to in her practice, I told her about having RA.
The woman I was speaking to was considerably older than I. She had kids, a family, and she said to me, “Wow. You’re my hero, that you could get up and be here with that disease.”
I was happy that sharing my story did encourage her in her practice. She then shared that she also has arthritis and it can be hard.
Now, I’m no hero, but the whole experience got me thinking.
- For all the people getting up in the morning, and walking to the bathroom, even when it hurts to press down on your feet, you’re my hero.
- For all the people respecting the fact that Chronic physical abilities change daily (as does everyone else’s) and knowing when to rest, you’re my hero.
- For all the people playing through pain or fatigue induced brain-fog, you’re my hero.
- For all the people participating in research studies to make this disease less prevalent, painful or for an eventual cure, you’re my hero.
It feels good to be someone’s hero. Whether or not you completely believe it, try to acknowledge your strength in getting through this experience. RA is not a human universal, but being chronic another challenge to the randomness of existing.
Tags: heros, human experience, nurturing, physical change, research studies, teaching yoga, you're my hero