Broken bones and life lessons

I fell on Monday, caught myself with my left arm, and broke it. The good news is that the break is right at the elbow and it's a type of break that heals very quickly. I just have to wear a sling for 2-3 weeks.

Everything is complicated when you only have 1 good arm. So far I'm doing pretty well. I can still do most things. They just take a lot more time, patience and focus. In a way, that is good because it reminds me to be present and focus on what I am doing right at that moment. I'm also becoming much more aware of how certain movements and postures affect the bad arm.

Here are some of my major accomplishments in this one- handed adventure:

Chopped vegetables

Shampooed my hair-- but I did waste some shampoo figuring out how to make it work.

Flossed my teeth--OK, I did cheat a little. I'm not using regular floss. I bought those floss picks. I hate them, but it's better than not flossing.

Cut up meat.

Typed up this blog (and several emails) holding the phone in my right hand and typing with the thumb of that hand. That may not be impressive to those of a younger generation, but I've never been able to do it, and now I can because I must.

Isn't is funny how life works that way. We learn by doing what needs to be done.

Here are a few things that I need to figure out still:

How to put my hair up or in a pony tail. I wear it down most of the time at work, but I like to get it out of the way at home.

How to use a pepper mill. This has been tricky. I have been able to get some pepper out, but it has been really hard.

How to shave under my right arm pit with my right hand.

And here are the things that I just plain can't do and need to learn to live without for awhile:

Tai Chi

Playing the piano with both hands. For now, it's right hand alone.

Really, there isn't much I can't do if I'm patient, creative, and have enough time. And that's another life lesson.


-- Posted from my iPhone

Learner vs. learned

"In times of change, learners inherit the world - while the learned remain beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists." --Eric Hoffer

I just found this quote and I love it. To me, this quote means that to know a lot is great and wonderful, but in order to really grow and thrive, we need to keep learning. Learning must be an ongoing process. We can't depend on the knowledge we gained last week, or last year. We have to keep learning the things that will help us right now.

To be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God. 2 Nephi 9:26
All the knowledge of the world is useless unless we can be open to new knowledge (from God or any other source) that enables us accomplish the things that are most important at that time. But, no knowledge is ever wasted. Everything we know provides a foundation for what we will learn in the future. Everything we encounter is colored by what we know.

One of the things I love about being a singer is that every time I sing a song it is different from any other time I have sung it. Each performance is colored by the new things I have learned about my voice and my life experiences. To expect or even desire to give a performance that is just like another is not only not realistic, it also will lead to stagnant, boring performances. Performances are fresh and engaging when we've practiced and learned all the details, but then allow ourselves to be open to the needs, emotions, and energy of the moment--to learn and experience as we go.

I am learned. I hope to always remain a learner.