What I Learned From Adversity



This is my entry for this month’s WILF writing project with the dear Robert Hruzek over at Middle Zone Musings.

The topic this month is adversity.

I am not officially handicapped.

Yet in recent times I lost use of my right hand.

I’d like to think it’s temporary

In December it will be three years

Losing use of my hand has humbled me in my tracks.   

Adversity defined; a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress

For me it’s defined by the things I CAN do versus the things I can’t. 

It’s marked by the new things I can do each and every day.

I have to remind myself that healing takes time, to be especially patient and that moving forward is methodical

Often I don’t feel patient.

I sometimes just wish I had my hand back 
 
What I’ve learned: 

trust your gut
when you wear a cast nothing hurts
casts cause harm
your skin needs air, light and a great moisturizer
even with a full arm cast you can get a date
second opinions count
surgeons can be human
my surgeon is kind
medical students want to learn 
cook county hospital is not as scary as you might think
I like being part of every part of the process
I faint

taking baths is nice occasionally
showers are way more efficient
washing one’s hair with both hands rocks
wiping left somehow isn’t the same

the body heals
the mind plays tricks on you
kindness of perfect strangers is amazing
the generosity of one’s friends is never ending
my friends are great cooks
dust is dust no matter how long it’s been there
my daughter is a domestic goddess
my son makes me laugh 
my dog misses me

typing left one fingered takes longer
i thought i’d stay away from the computer somehow
I really didn’t

finding the humor really does make a difference

What have I learned  most?  

That the other side of adversity triumphs.


the sock helped reduce the shock air was to the skin – it was hypersensitive for about 2 weeks



I currently wear this to sleep, drive, or when I need lifting support. I am not fond of this thing.

How do you celebrate Earth Day?
If you’re not cleaning green – what’s stopping you? 

karen hanrahan | wellness educator and consultant | writer
nutrition ~ green clean ~ inch loss  ~ anti-aging







This entry was written by Karen Hanrahan, posted on April 10, 2009 at 9:57 am, filed under Creativity and tagged . Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.

6 Comments

  1. Robert Hruzek
    Posted April 10, 2009 at 11:07 pm | Permalink

    The list just goes on and on, doesn’t it, Karen? It’s amazing how many seemingly mundane things are cause for celebration when we can’t do them for awhile!Tip o’ the hat to ya!

  2. Karen Hanrahan
    Posted April 10, 2009 at 11:28 pm | Permalink

    seemingly Robert it does…great topic to write about – thank you!

  3. nadine sellers
    Posted April 14, 2009 at 1:48 am | Permalink

    hey? adversity looks good on you, many bunny strokes to you, hoping and hopping all over your word-scape.but the arm glove is so sexy, don’t like the rigid wrist prison, still following your tracks, happy spring to marble et al.

  4. Karen Hanrahan
    Posted April 14, 2009 at 1:55 am | Permalink

    hey back dear poetic friend…gee if I think hard enough about someone POOF they appear following my tracks gleefully – sexy arm indeed, you are wonderfully silly nadine – I appreciate the moment with you and think of you lots, springtime – new beginnings yes??

  5. Terro
    Posted April 14, 2009 at 2:03 am | Permalink

    I’m not a lot like you, Karen, except in not always being patient, but I truly admire your response to losing the use of your hand. I hope you will regain that use, but in the meantime you have obviously gained some wonderful insight and joys along the way.

  6. Karen Hanrahan
    Posted April 14, 2009 at 10:18 pm | Permalink

    What a lovely thing to say – thank you.

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