Melting Away

This was the condition of the skin on my thighs just a few weeks back, when I had an unfortunate glass of boiling water shatter, and spill all over me. Being in a hot weather climate, I wasn't even able to get enough cold water to soothe my burning, melting skin. And the meager supply of ice in my fridge was a paltry half chuckle to the actual need I was in.

And still... within a few short weeks, cleaning, and changing out bandages, my skin was healed, sans some light scaring, I learned a few things:

1) Happy to be alive in the time of antibiotic ointment - I was reminded of how many people use to die due to the slightest of infections. If this boiling water had happened to me just a few decades ago (1950's), I would probably not be here today.

2) The human body is freaking amazing! - While I have dealt with lots of challenges in my life, some related to mind, some to soul, and then there is the body. This beautiful machine, that we only have one of (though it looks like the ability to grow replacements is on the horizon). And yet, watching my skin, melt, peel, bubble up (not pretty), and then eventually fall off. Leaving this pure pink, baby but skin, was nothing short of amazing.

3) You recovery starts with your mind - I remember the next day, I joyfully exclaimed to my team during a session of Personal/Business best for the previous week. "I had boiling water melt my skin. Yet, I can still walk, and the pain isn't too bad. So I am super blessed this morning!" To which one of my teammates couldn't believe my joy, and asked, "Are you saying your personal best is that your legs got burned." To which I simply answered, "Not happy that they burned, but happy that I am able to walk, function, and will recover!"

And yes, you may be thinking, I am absolutely insane. And yet, I would counter that thinking and say, you are absolutely insane not to think positive in the most negative. It is positive thinking, approaches (I know I am going to have to bandage and clean and care a bit extra for my legs). Not, I hate this, I have to do this. It is positive thinking that says, "yes, this is inconvenient, but I will just adjust the time it takes me to do things, for my legs (or situation)." Not, "everything is ruined, and now I need to get special treatment... or else."

You are going to burn your self. You are going to melt things (hopefully not permanently). You are going to break things, or have things broken (hearts, bodies, minds, possessions). And yet... we can't blame anyone. We must deal with the pain, the discomfort, the distraction. Whatever it may be, make it part of your normal, not a circumstance or an excuse. This is life. You must fight through the pain. You should enjoy the pain (to some extent). And you can create a world where the pain doesn't sideline you, but it allows you to pause, pivot, and push through the new normal... melted pieces and all.