It’s Monday morning and I had to run a couple of errands before I got to work. I was seeing a physical therapist because my neck was sore because of the amount of time I spent on the computer and the car accident I had over two weeks ago.
The chiropractor gave me a massage and I was feeling relaxed and ready to finalize a few personal projects I have been slow to finish because I was working on a major conference in November I work on every year. A few people had called and or emailed to ask how things were going on the task list.
I kept telling them you know this is the busiest I have ever been and the fact that I was in a car accident recently didn’t help much. I told them in one week I will finish my work and I will get back in the groove of things.
I told my boss that I had to drop my car off to the auto body shop and pick up a rental, after the therapy I dropped my car off and got a rental. And I was happy, am relaxed and as I was driving to work I was marking down my checklist, its 10 am and I have accomplished a few things already.
I had to make a couple of phone calls to give updates on my situation. I got to work, I am thinking thank god this is the last week on this conference because a few more projects and I can relax a bit.
I pressed the button on the elevator, it took 30 seconds before I started thinking I am wasting too much time waiting for this elevator when I can run up the stairs. And so I was skipping every other step as I am going up.
As Active as a corpse
And then I froze, hit the ground. I couldn’t move, it was like I was paralyzed. I didn’t hurt anything when I hit the ground because I used my hands brace myself. I know had to somehow get up the stairs. I was thinking I don’t need this right now. I got up to the top of the stairs and wanted to shout. The pain was unbearable. I couldn’t have been paralyzed because I could feel my toes. Maybe it was temporary, so I waited for about two minutes but I still couldn’t stand up. I was scared; I was hoping this was not some permanent that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life.
Someone found me and got my boss to come, I told her what happened and we called my doctor and she was going to drop me off at the doctor’s office. I find out that I had twised my pelvis muscle, no permanent damage but it will take a week to heal. I can’t drive I can’t sit, I can’t go to the bathroom I was immobilized.
They patched me up with something and got a cab and got home, it took me 20 minutes to get up the stairs to the second floor off my apartment, and I opened the door and just laid there.
I didn’t move for three days, except when I crawled to go to the bathroom, thank god for friends who took turns bringing me food and drinks. The only thing I could do was change the channel.
Sitting was the toughest thing after the fourth day so I had to lie down while I had to finish the couple of project that where urgent for work. The rest of the stuff they sent to a freelancer.
The next week I got better but I was slow, I couldn’t sit for more than 20 minutes or so I didn’t get on the computer, I went to work for a few hours. By this time the conference is done so I had planned to use the free time to finish the many projects that I had planned to do.
I was getting phone calls and emails, from family, friends, clients and blah blah. I realized that I just strain myself too much emotionally. Most of the people that call me call me because they need something from me.
I am not like them, I take care of the things I need for myself. If I need to find a tailor, I google it; If I need promote something, I promote it; I don’t have a Nolawi type of friend that I ask for personal favors.
This experience thought me something, I need to relax a bit and that I need to enjoy each and everyday, because life is fragile and full of problems. Yet as fragile as our body is, it is one of the strongest things because it heals itself in most cases.
It’s amazing…. the ability to heal!
I am now back bigger and stronger than ever! And in the words of my Rastafarian friends “give thanks” to those who took care me; but mostly bernos’s own Meron.
Love Ya for bringing me breakfast on your way to class. For picking up groceries on your way home, for making me a sandwich for lunch and dinner and for passing me all the pillows I needed to keep myself comfortable.
Published by November 12th, 2007 in Personal and Social.Send this post to a friend
Thank God it was not something more serious or permanent. That had to be very scary. Nolawi, you just have to really work hard on relaxing. Do your work and cut back on helping others, especially those that can do it themselves.
I am glad you are okay. Get well soon! Meru, you are such a sweetheart.
Nolawi, Enquan Igziabeher Aterefeh.
I think you should learn from this and the car accident, that you can only do so much. Don’t superman no more! It seems that you pushing it too hard and your body is telling you otherwise. You have to look after yourself…things can only be done when you are healthy and capable. Don’t forget that you are not getting younger!
Take care man.
Indeed, the ability to heal is amazing. So is the body’s way of asking you to stop and smell the roses.
Glad you’re well McStiffy!
Nolawi, Enkuwan Kelalun Aregeleh and bezih alefe. Take care of thy self… a little less of tug tug and a whole lot of nicey nicey is in order along with the Morphine:)
Noles,
Good to know you are back to fighting shape. Sometimes life has to knock us on our asses to make us slow down and take notice - although it was a bit too literal in your case. Learn to say no a little bit more and take more time for yourself.
Ohhh Nolawi, sorry to hear about your hurt, but most of all I am glad that you are back to normal.
inkuan igziabher mareh! hulum keliku ayalfim, take it easy Nol.
Meruuu, bless you….that’s what I call a good friend!
Looll you guys thanks for the supportive comments… and the lack of complaints…
hello nolawi do u have an e-mail address…that i can e-mail u? thanks
nolawi.petros @ gmail.com
Enkuan Egziabher mareh!
I am very touched by your story and tears came to my eyes as I read it. I am touched not only that this happened to you, I think this also could affect us all. In trying to put myself in your foot and I thought I wouldn’t know who I would call for help. It always have been one of the things that worry me much. My family are back home and don’t have close friends or relatives near my area to call for help when I am sick. Though right now I fend for myself quiet adequately and do not need extra help, it really scars me and don’t know how everything would shake out if life comes at me fast. I am sure many people in Diaspora may have no other option but to live alone. And it’s really sucked being sick alone and drag yourself to the store to get medicine or to get yourself a glass of water…but it even more scarier specially when if you are in a problem or condition that may limit what you can do and aren’t able to function and you don’t have someone to help..Egzer yisewir!
Nolawi - your body is say “check, check…and, hulet, sost….yisemal?”
you are blessed with good friends. take care of yourself.
Nolawi, It is good that you are back to normal.
It is also good thing you’ve learnt to relax more and take sometime for yourself.
Trust me i am also learning something here…i recently found out that i have some sort of “Scintillating scotoma” in my eyes just because of too much stress and headaches.
It is also great thing you have many nice friends around.
I am glad you are doing fine Noli.Please take it easy and take care of yourself.
You need your health and strength to help others so self comes first and the rest will follow.
Meruye, god bless you for being there for your friend!!
EP, God’s speed. I hope you are giving your eyes a break so they can heel.
Wow. That must have been really scary. Glad to hear you are feeling better!
Thanks Everyone for the comments…
Nolawi, I am glad it is over. Relax please! you should give priority to yourself . Meron egziabher yebarkesh, you are indeed a true friend.
Stay up bud. Hopefully I will see you over the weekend….will give you a call.
What won’t kill you, will make you stronger.
Nolawi,
I am glad to hear you are doing well. Take good care of your self.
ouch. ayzon ayzon.
Mariam be’shilm tawTah yene geta.
Every time I see Doro Mata in the comment section of this blog, that is what I read first…. But this time your amarigna sounds like addis ababa sost amet yenore ferenj…..Mariam beshilim tawTah is what u say to someone having a baby…
Doro Mata, time to take vacation, go back to Addis for at least three months and clean up your rusty amarigna…..
Cheers,
That maybe because doro is not from addis… did you think of that?
Actually, she should go to Gojam, Gondar, or Welo for some real amarigna lesson. The problem now is she is tri-lingual…Amharic, English and Amhanglish inventing new words like SBS everyday ….that to me is detrimental labatochachin quanqua
Medhanitu is to go back to square one.
Poor you!
When you use your blackberry, bluberry,this berry that berry..watch your step or take the damn elevator (avoid LB, though). My advice to you is that just minimize man-made gadgets. What’s these projects in the center of your life? Is it on sale now? It seems that eating your mini cereal breakfast is also a “project”. Cut it out! Too many projects are revolving around you. Life is what you make of it. Take the good old granny advise and you’ll be your old self again.
lol Dinich and Nolawi
me needs no Amarigna lessons
me happy with my leza’ena CHewata yemolaw andebet
if anybody needs medhanit here, its miskinu serategna nib Nolawiachin
Hey Nolawi,
That was great, and I’m glad you are doing better !
“Yet as fragile as our body is, it is one of the strongest things because it heals itself in most cases.” “It’s amazing…. the ability to heal!”
Isn’t God’s work AMAZING ? Do you think evolution can be that accurate on how our body functions perfectly ? I’m talking about every little process that takes place in our body.
Most of the time, I enjoy reading Dinich & Grand Ma comments. They are very straight forward. Nice personality lol.
Nolawi, have a New Year resolution to make time for yourself.