How did I ever get HEAR?

In the grand tapestry of life, we often find ourselves entangled in a series of unexpected twists and turns. Little did I know that the past six months would unfold as a medically taxing rollercoaster, complete with loop-de-loops and unexpected drops that have left me both bewildered and exhilarated.

It all began with a seemingly innocuous ache that gradually transformed into a symphony of ailments. Multiple Drs and diagnoses later, I found myself on the doctors and surgical table more times than I can care to count. Who knew my body had such a flair for drama? It turns out, I was just starting my very own medical soap opera.

Surgery, they say, is not for the faint of heart. Well, neither is being diagnosed with a litany of conditions that require it. As I juggled recovery periods and bed rest, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer resilience of the human body. It's like a complex machine with a manual that nobody bothered to give us, it's like writing code on the 'fly', every time we think a chapter is almost finished, something changes.

Enter the painkiller saga, a subplot I never saw coming, but with the Netflix dramas of #DOPESICK and #PAINKILLER probably landing 2 years too late for me, pain management became an unexpected protagonist along the medical journey. While the allure of those little pills was undeniable, I soon found myself caught in the crosshairs of a battle against management of pain and dysfunction in their absence... I can't say it's been pleasant. It was a dance with the devil, but instead of a red cape, mine was a prescription bottle that no one had warned me about in 2020 when I twisted my back picking up the stroller in a bar to go up 3 little steps.

Picture this: me, an unintentional protagonist in a pharmaceutical thriller, desperately trying to kick the habit. I discovered that withdrawal symptoms have a wicked sense of humor. As I continue to navigate the stormy seas and balance the boat (that somedays is a cruise ship and others a dinghy), laughter has became my lifeboat. It turns out, even in the darkest of times, humor can be the best medicine. Who knew?

Now, let's talk about my newfound superpower – partial deafness. Yes, you read that right. Apparently, my ears decided to take a sabbatical, leaving me with an altered perspective on life. Conversations became a game of lip-reading charades, and I discovered that misheard lyrics are the true gateway to a parallel universe of creative expression. To be honest I always made up my own lyrics, but now I have a real excuse!

Being partially deaf is like having a backstage pass to the world. I hear what I want to hear, and sometimes, I just nod and smile, hoping for the best. It's the ultimate selective hearing, a skill that has come in handy during family gatherings and I 'hear' is a superpower for workplace meetings alike (sorry I couldn't resist). Who knew that not hearing everything could be so liberating?

As I reflect on the past year, I can't help but acknowledge the plot twists that life threw my way. Medical challenges, surgical escapades, painkiller wars, and partial deafness – it's been a whirlwind. But here's the secret: you don't always need perfect vision or flawless hearing to truly see and hear the beauty that life has to offer. Good friends like Robert Buckingham , Nikos Kougionas and Gaurav Bhatia have continuously helped me remain positive, whilst coaches like Sonia Mathur James McLean and Oliver Wilson and Marco Amitrano have helped me believe in myself along the way. Not to mention the new friends I've made like Jamie Clark , Joanna Truong-Cao , Allison Horn , Eric Wong , Janet Krstevski and Sanjeet Soor to name just a few.

In the grand finale of my medical marvels, I'd like to think I've emerged stronger, wiser, and with a newfound appreciation for the unpredictable plot twists that make life the grand adventure it is. So, here's to laughter in the face of adversity, resilience in the midst of challenges, and the unexpected joys that come when you don't always see or hear what others don't.

As I continue my recovery, I've made a commitment to use my medical sabbatical to continue my learning and #growthmindset and publish a weekly blog that will cover all the hot topics in the business world from #GenAI to #Optimizedbusinessoperations, something I promised a good friend Shyam Radia I'd do many moons ago.

To close my first blog, sharing your medical ailments isn't a sign of weakness; it's a testament to your strength, resilience, and the courage it takes to face life's challenges with openness and authenticity. The show must go on...