The
last week has been pretty tough. Having almost always been healthy and active,
to find myself suddenly neither, was something of a head spin. Luckily I have made it my mission this year
to think positively and in terms of gratitude. Having woken up progressively
less flexible and mobile and in more and more pain in my lower back, for over a
week, I optimistically set out on my walk to school on Thursday thinking maybe
it will feel better and loosen up after the walk. Well that lasted for the
first 5 minutes and then reality set in and I requested we take a taxi to
school for the first time since February. Someone with a bit more clarity and
forethought might have headed to the hospital or home but no, reality hadn’t
set in at that point.
(the gorgeous gratitude journal app I bought to help me this year)
Once
at school, I set about the usual morning tasks of signing in, completing the
marking on my desk and assembling the lesson plans, texts and resources I
needed for my lessons for the day. It wasn’t until I attempted to print out a
sheet for the upcoming competition, which is a part of our Reading Year
celebrations that I realised that I could barely walk and not bend at all!
Luckily
at that point I heard our Madam Tshewang Choden, principal extraordinaire and
observant and compassionate mentor, in the corridor. Taking one look at me, she
immediately sensed something was wrong, enquired and had me hospital bound. Fortunately
the best hospital in the kingdom is very nearby. Gratitude!
Blessing
number one would have to be having a principal who appreciates that health is
important and not to be trifled with. Over the last few days when I have only
ventured out to visit the hospital physiotherapy outpatients’ department, she
has continued to be supportive and understanding, calling me and sending texts,
reassuring me that I should rest and recover and not worry about school. For me
this is an absolute first in Bhutan and I am so very grateful that not only do
I have a principal who encourages, challenges and inspires as well as
appreciating and praising individual effort but she also understands and is
decisive and compassionate. I am full of gratitude and admiration.
With
severely limited mobility I have come to feel grateful for so many other things
in my current living and working situation too. I am grateful that this apartment
has hot showers, as I would never be able to cope with the bathrooms of
previous residences, in which we have lived in Bhutan, in my current state. I
would never even be able to climb the stairs to our incredible, traditional,
rammed earth home in Samtengang! There is another thing to be grateful for
right there. While this apartment is on
the 4th floor, there are safe, wide, marble stairs with handrails
and I have managed to ascend and descend them albeit slowly several times in
the past few days. I am also grateful for the fact that living in the capital
means I can simply stop at the pharmacy on my way back from the hospital, when
I discover what I should now purchase to expedite my recovery. Being able to
purchase what is needed and recommended is not a luxury I have experienced
before.
Most
of all I am grateful that I have a partner who is supportive and encouraging.
He has stepped in and done more than ever to make life easier and more
comfortable in the last few days. I have had friends and colleagues call and
text and even drop by, as is the Bhutanese custom. Still without a doubt I know
our boss is the reason I can finally feel there is light at the end of the
tunnel and I am going to get better soon.
How
could I not we have a 9-day break coming up later this month and flights to
Bumthang already booked. Oh, yes vacation isn’t that just one more reason to be
grateful?
This
year has taught me that Monty Python got it right when they advised “Always
look on the bright side of life” I’m grateful and it works.
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