If you touch a hot stove, you quickly retract- action and reaction. When you drive over the speed limit, you get a ticket: misbehavior and consequences. Sending out love, you are cherished in return. Having expectations in life which is linear and expected is almost comforting. Chaos is never an invited and welcomed state. In fact we avoid this as much as possible. It is disturbing, noxious and threatening. A devastating health diagnosis or injury are examples. You are getting on with your busy life. Making dinner, knowing your mammogram is the next day. That doctor’s visit postponed will check the PSA in blood work for prostate cancer this week. That racing heart will bring you to a doc who finds A fib (and you quickly recall seeing commercials for drugs that you ignored before).
In the quiet moments, unknown to you, a villain has gained entrance- rarely with a cause and effect. It showed up uninvited. Threatening your peaceful world. Derailing plans, insulting your wellness surreptitiously. How dare it? When you poured your coffee that morning having no idea how the day would end. There is no plan for this. This is entropy.
Middle aged Max talks about working construction. No insurance. Then a pain in the arm required an x-ray. The disease is everywhere. Linda had Botox for her frown. She heard about the risk of an eye droop but when it didn’t clear for months, the lung cancer pressing on a nerve causing ptosis of the eye was a shock. Young Adrian thought the sore throat would just leave. When the covid test was negative, more work up found a tonsil cancer and he isn’t even 30. I discuss these devastating diagnoses with calm assurance and help with my colleagues to develop a plan of care. The wide eyes stare and rarely follow the words or events.
Even after thirty years, I am not immune to the consequences of my discussions. No one is prepared- ever. Everyone wants to return to an earlier date before diagnosis. You cannot wrap your head around this. I am not, however, going to ask you to accept or just get on with whatever process is before you.
Today I recommend a different path. The body that has deceived you by letting this sneaky sickness form needs direction from you. I’ve by now convinced you of the healing power of walking in nature. Today, however, I suggest stillness. Take a chair, grab a blanket for the lawn or beach, find a park bench, sit on the front step. Without a word and definitely without any distraction or phone, sit down.
In the quiet, something magical will happen… if you let it. The vibrant cacophony of nature will entertain you. The ducks and geese will swim, the frogs croak, the squirrels will scamper, even the snake will slither. The birds will line up on the pole or wire, the soft wind will touch your face and the leaves rustle. The clouds will sail by and the sun will warm. Every single aspect of this adventure is there just for you to enjoy. There are no expectations. There is no blame, fear, or confusion. There is just a healing of spirit that nature provides without cause and effect. There is nothing to request or do. The world is coming to soothe you. I am not trying to distract you from your drama. Try it. Then make those moments happen more often, enriching your soul and mind. Helping you to cope as your attention to disease converts to attention to life… of all kinds, realizing its own internal healing and always there for you.