Thursday, January 27, 2022

It’s No Secret

not-quite Journaling, 28

 it’s no secret, friend--
when a soul swims in sorrow,
the flesh drowns in wails

1/15/2022: While in my pain management doctor’s waiting room, I overheard a man say to a woman, “I don’t see how feeling down can make your back hurt. That makes no sense. You need to tell them to up your meds.” I wasn’t going to say anything (meddling in strangers’ business rarely leaves the meddler in a healthy spot), but when I watched the woman lower her head, when I noticed just how much she looked like a beaten dog, I couldn’t help myself. So, I said, “Intense sadness often increases physical pa—” Before I finished my statement, the gentleman (not so gently) told me to “shut the f*ck up”. And I did; not because the asswipe commanded me to, but because the woman had lifted her head and was mouthing, “Thank you”, behind a nervous smile. I hope I didn’t make things worse for her. I also hope that, since my advice was offered at the top of my lungs, a doctor or a nurse heard me and helped her in a safe way. 🤞🏽

 

Good
food feeds
flesh and soul;
bad food eats you
up.

1/19/2022: I wrote this poem bit while reading Skinny Liver: A Proven Program to Prevent and Reverse the New Silent Epidemic-Fatty Liver Disease, by Ibrahim Hanouneh and Kristin Kirkpatrick. The book is wonderfully informative and it has helped me a lot when deciding what to eat, when, and how (to slim my liver). But the elfchen was actually inspired by an Ann Wigmore quote, which someone scribbled on the back of the book: “The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”

 

on her back,
Nature polka dots
art that moves


1/20/2022: Last night, I found a moving surprise on my pillbox. Isn’t she cute? 🐞🥰


- for Poets and Storytellers United--Friday Writings #11: Feast or Famine.

33 comments:

  1. When to speak up and when no can be so tricky at times! I'm glad you did in this instance. You wouldn't have been thanked if the woman hadn't been glad of it too.

    Very wise and true about the food.

    Nature makes the best art!

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    1. There have been so many times when I've regretted not saying anything. I'm just glad I did this time.

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    2. Still, I can't help wondering if she thanked me just so that I would stop talking. Sigh.

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  2. Love that ladybug, your poem and that pill box!

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  3. Ladybugs as a totem are a sign of good luck and fortune. I spent some time at Anne Wigmore's Hippocrates Health Institute in the '70s. Not into raw food though. It takes too much energy to digest when one deals with fatigue. Thank you for truth telling/speaking up for that woman.

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  4. I well remember saying to my chiropractor in a time of intense back pain ... "I feel as if I have the weight of the world on my shoulders, and it's causing my back to hurt! ou were bravely right to speak up. Given his attitude, I'm sure the gentleman has many aches and pains!!

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    1. If being a jerk makes some people hurt, no wonder there are so many people growling at each other all the time.

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  5. Well, my dear friend you are so right. Emotions do effect pain levels and reading your story I know this woman is taking the brunt of her husband's pain, depression, and anger. All he wants are more meds and if he lived in Oregon, he would be getting gabapentin and an ensaid. So many people take the abuse of a chronic pain partner because they themselves feel helpless and responsible. Luckily, my partner who has been in chronic pain for 35 years never took it out on me. Well, he knows I wouldn't stand for it. ha ha ha. I do believe you were right in speaking but not for being attacked. Pain or no he is an asshole. The horrible thing is that a woman in pain or illness more often has a husband who leaves because he can't handle it. A woman will stay to the end. Long subject of course. As for your beautiful ladybug come to visit. What a joy. In my tribe this brings new awareness on a spiritual level and a guide to see you through most anything. Ohhh I love your pill box. Sorry for the long comment.

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    1. First, never apologize for a long comment here. I love reading your insights.

      I always tell my Piano Man that he is very special and I'm very lucky. He looks at me like I'm crazy, and says things like, "But you are the one in pain. I'm not doing anything." Being in pain is hard enough, having some idiot making life more difficult wouldn't work. I wouldn't stand for it either.

      A beautiful guide is more than welcome right now. So, yay!

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  6. Good on you for speaking up. I'll offer up a little prayer for that woman too. It sounds like she has it rough on multiple fronts.

    I'm glad the book is helping you. Being more selective about what one puts in one's body is usually a good idea.

    And squee for lady bugs!

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    1. I've been thinking about that woman quite a bit these days... I hope she's all right.

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  7. Kudos to you for speaking up, for that lady! Sometimes meddling in other people's affairs is necessary, more so especially when one's pain is reduced by the very person who is suppose to be supportive.

    And oh, your moving art is really beautiful and moving!

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    1. May we all have someone to speak... if we aren't able to do if for ourselves.

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  8. As one experiencing a lot a pain, I feel sorry for those with partners who are less than empathic. Men can be so - they just want to fix us but not understand our pain.

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    1. I can't even imagine living with someone like that. My Piano Man is fantastic--he listens, he understands, he is there when I need him. Someone who just wants to fix us is a bigger pain.

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  9. Gosh, that's a heart-stopping story.

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  10. Your little friend doesn't look real, like part of the box itself! How delightful. Kudos for deciding to speak. Curses to the sourpuss who shushed you. Strength to the lady who needs it. A great post today, Magaly!

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    1. I know, right? She looks like a jewel. I join my wishes to yours on the rest.

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  11. I love your little visitor! Oooft, the urge to curse that man is strong! Get a bit of his hair if you see him again! XD

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  12. Beautiful haiku to open with. Amazing that you had the courage to speak up to a stranger.

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  13. Ladybirds bring good luck. you remind me of my grandmother She was fearless and a champion for justice.

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  14. Your words (even when cut short) are more powerful than you let yourself believe. And I dare say the "silent curse" that travelled with them is probably poisoning him as we type cws XX

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  15. Love ladybugs. As for the rude person in the waiting room, I would not have had the calmness about it the way you had. It's nice that the woman thanked you.

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    1. I've noticed that we can't lose our tempers when confronting individuals of that sort. Sometimes it's almost impossible not to word-smack them. But it's best when we don't. They don't deserve our frustration.

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  16. Oh my goodness, that first write... the flesh wails. I can feel the pain emanating straight out of the words.

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    1. Then we shall feel it together, and cut it by half.

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