I bow at the feet of pain and disability endurers

There's a lot to admire about people. Since everybody is different, a truism that holds even for identical twins, each individual has some unique qualities that merit admiration.

(To those who consider that some people have nothing to be admired about them, here's an adage that a friend of mine liked to say: "No one's life ever is completely wasted; they can always serve as a horrible example for others.")

I find that a good gauge of what I find admirable is emotion. When I'm deeply moved by something a person has done, and I feel tears coming to my eyes, that's a reliable sign of admiration. 

Often this happens when I'm watching TV. After all, as I go about my everyday life, it's rare that I directly experience someone engaged in a truly admirable act. 

Last night I wrote a post for my HinesSight blog: "Woman in wheelchair brought tears as I watched So You Think You Can Dance." Here's the audition that had such an effect on me.

I related this woman's courage to my own much lesser difficulty with getting around.

I've had painful sciatica in my right leg, hip, and butt for more than four years. In December of last year it got quite a bit worse, though initially in 2020 the pain was so bad I frequently had tears in my eyes for that reason.

I can't walk very far now. I can't go to my Tai Chi class now. I can't exercise without enduring some intense pain. I feel sorry for myself, even though I try to be as positive as possible about the prospect of finding some relief once my appointment at Salem Pain & Spine Specialists arrives in ten days.

The example of Kaylee Bays, who is much worse off than I am, yet has a much bigger smile than I'm able to manage most days, makes me feel that no matter how bad my pain is, and no matter how little I may be able to benefit from treatment, I can still fight as hard as I can to keep on doing the things I like to do and need to do.

So I guess I admire myself for, say, doing what I did today: exercising through the pain at our athletic club, then coming home and taking our dog for her evening walk on a hilly trail that is difficult for me to handle given the current state of my sciatica.

Yet I enjoy the dog walk. Not in a physical sense, because pain isn't enjoyable. At least, it isn't for me.

What I enjoy is the feeling that I've done something difficult that's helpful to my wife and dog. Wife, because if I don't walk the dog, she has to, and today she wanted to do some planting in our yard while the weather was warm and sunny. Dog, because I take her on a longer walk in the late afternoon than my wife does, and Mooka (our Husky mix) likes that walk.

This gets into the subject of seva, an Indian word that means service. Seva was a big deal in the guru-based organization I was a member of for 35 years, Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB). RSSB initiates considered that seva for the organization, and thus indirectly for the guru, was an admirable thing to do.

Of course, the strange thing is that everybody in the world is doing seva of one form or another. It isn't anything special. A mother fixing breakfast for her young children -- seva. A teacher providing supplies for his classroom at his own cost -- seva. A nurse working an extra shift to care for hospital patients during a staffing shortage -- seva.

Most people don't call their acts of service by a particular name. I do this, because it was such a large part of my life for those 35 religious years. However, the most moving displays of service are when people simply do what needs doing because that's what has to be done. 

Kaylee Bays, the woman in the wheelchair, said that she's performing on So You Think You Can Dance in order to draw attention to the incurable disease she suffers from, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. That's a service to humanity, for sure. 

Bays also is being of service by simply dancing in and out of her wheelchair. Watching her changed me, as I'm sure countless others also were changed by her performance. Her courage and dedication are infectious. I can't say that I possess anywhere near the strength and dedication shown by Bays.

However, her example made me realize that as annoying as my own pain is, it doesn't have to define me; it doesn't have to limit me; it doesn't have to prevent me from doing what I'm capable of doing. She's a wonderful example for others. 

May you do well in the choreography round of So You Think You Can Dance, Kaylee. I and so many others will be rooting for you. 

Comments

[s*]

Very nice!
I´ve been a dancer..
Pain is not easy and what one can still do is happily appreciated in old days.
Still carry on as long as is possibly possible.
There was a´ Walk for Peace ´in Amsterdam all people in mosly White..also white flags..
Lots of old people were there walking ore sitting in wheel- chairs..
All for PEACE.
Touching event yesterday.
They go do this more often from now..
<3

[umami]

Hey, Brian.

Is everybody absolutely sure your pain originates in the spine? Sometimes it's the sacroiliac joint. Sometimes it's the the hip. Here's an article about sciatica caused by a torn labrum and a paralabral cyst. The patient spent long periods sitting cross-legged or in a squat!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418116/

[sant64]

TREASURE BEYOND MEASURE XIV

"Maharaji had always been impressing upon us, during the forty years of his practice of Nam, that this method of Surat Shabd Yoga is the only means of attaining God-realization." -- Maharaji Gruinder Singh Ji's Inaugural Address

"I am not one of those Babas who says that my religion is the only way to achieve God-realization."

-- Gurinder Singh in Q&A with GSD

[Kranvir]

Seva in RSSB organization is giving up your time to contribute to the growth of that cult and its leader , gurinder singh Dhillon. Beware, this organization does not get you to liberation or enlightenment. Sangat have been fooled and manipulated to expand the rssb brand and cult world wide. In other words SEVA at RSSB is SLAVERY as you yoursrlf gain nothing. It is a contract where you do something now, give up your physical self, and sacrifice your time from your loved ones for a false promise of going to heaven in the afterlife. Doesn't it remind you of a promise of 40 virgins in heaven as in the Islamic faith. Why can't you get happiness for yourself and families benefit in the current life? Gurinder singh Dhillon is therefore misleading millions of innocent souls, knowingly and shows no compassion, or remorse. In fact he positively enjoys the suffering of souls and being worshipped like a god. He is a sly wicked dark soul, and is a kaal incarnated, and his so called santmat methods leads souls to satan and back into the reincarnation cycle only to be tortured again. Gurinder singh Dhillon your days are numbered and god is not happy with your actions , you will pay the price and face your karma.

[Kranvir]

Rssb previous fake ass gurus and gurinder, the hypocrite, enforces the fact that you are experiencing suffering because of your past life and they say there is a so called a store of karma which you have to pay back. But did you know that these fake gurus invented this concept to keep you in the suffering cycle for lifetimes. In other words, you are put in prison, the hell earth, for a crime you didn't commit. Is this fair and just? The real reason for implanting this idea of a store of karma is to keep you in fear and in a helpless, humble, powerless state, so you surrender yourself to a saviour guru. Karma store is like a hook that gets the sheep, and the lambs, the sleeping sangat, to the slaughter - which is the path to kaal, satan, jot niranjan the liar. Gurinders lies and manipulating techniques are exposed, you will face your karma soon

[Trez]

Gurinder Singh Dhillon and Radha Seedy Soami
Is a pain in the ass.

From Seva to meditation it's a con by a con artist Baba Gurinder Singh Dogy Dhilion

Seva for him is to use the individual for his needs and tell him not to look for anything in return, imagine working for your boss at work for free. That's the Hypocrite he is.

Only to bow to his Fake ass and do whatever he say. He even preachs to all the coming generations to not look after they're parents and family as he is all we've got.

What a load of bull by bull shite Baba Gurinder Singh Dhilion

This looney bin needs to be binned

Seva is something he should for for the sangat
Not use the sangats millions for his lavish seedy lifestyle.

Waiter is what he was, Waiter is what he is