Temporary Markings – drive with care

During my road trip I encountered these signs multiple times – Temporary Markings – drive with care – and I thought of how relevant they are to my daily life. Really, it is all temporary, and things can change from one minute to the next. Still we continue to be surprised. I have never forgotten the large sign at the front of a bus in Japan. As I settled into my seat it caught my attention -“Substantial delays sometimes happen from road conditions and weather so please accept it beforehand.”

In other words, prepare for delays. It doesn’t mean like it. it means this is what can happen, so stay alert and aware and adapt accordingly.

As much as I  know this intellectually, I am always caught off guard when someone dies, especially someone younger than me and especially someone with no risk factors. Like everyone else, I say things like “he was in perfect health, active, passionate about living, how does this happen?” And I know better than asking such a question. I have lots of experience in knowing that we can’t prevent anything no matter how many blueberries we eat, and I even have a list of X-rated words that includes the word prevent.

Doing everything right does not prevent illness or death. We all live with uncertainty and learning to co-exist with our finite lives is a skill worth cultivating. When I say “doing things right does not prevent an illness,”  I do not mean that it’s not important to do our part. When we do a reasonable job with the basics it improves the quality of our everyday lives and that is hugely important. It also reduces our risk for certain diseases and it ups our chance of staying healthy. Even more, if we do get a serious illness and don’t have other comorbidities, it can reduce side effects from treatment and improve the treatment outcomes as well. So don’t give up good choices, but do understand it does not prevent anything.

I must add, for new readers that the big reason I don’t like,  “do this and this and this …and you will prevent cancer or heart disease” etc is that it is not true but people believe it and it becomes a blaming word when someone is diagnosed with a serious illness. And I consider that a tragedy. Not only are you faced with a serious illness but you get blamed for it.

Consequently, I admire Dr. Morita Shoma’s approach to life as it embodies Salutogeneis.

The word salutogenesis comes from the Latin salus (meaning health) and the Greek genesis (meaning origin). The word originally caught my eye a few years ago in an article by Nigel Crisp, in Prospect Magazine,  How Aristotle Can Teach Us  to Build a Better Society:

“There is a long (but often neglected) western tradition of interest in salutogenesis, the origins of health, which is concerned with understanding the causes of health as opposed to pathogenesis, the origins of disease. This is in some ways the precursor to what is today called “social prescribing,” an approach which sees clinicians prescribe gardening, swimming, drawing, painting, doodling, singing and other activities instead of (only)pharmaceuticals, making use of the health-creating benefits of each. This is not about prevention of disease but the creation of health—the causes of health not the causes of disease. It takes the positive, not the negative approach to creating the conditions for people to be healthy.”

Dr. Jinroh Itami, the founder of Ikigai Ryoho, and the basis of my work Living Fully/Well with Illness, was a visionary over 40 years ago when he recognized that his metastatic cancer patients needed more than chemo, radiation and surgery. They needed activities that brought them joy, that made them laugh and made their lives meaningful. They needed a reason to get up in the morning beyond their medical and work appointments. And so he prescribed drawing lessons, flower arranging, hiking, Haiku and painting. Creative activities along with health promoting guidelines and humour that we might enjoy our lives even with illness, and that gives us a mental break.

Everything Changes – Nothing Stays the Same

The fact that all is temporary is not a curse. Think about when we are struggling and we can’t imagine feeling any different. And yet that changes too. Nothing lasts forever and often that feels like a gift. Life is a great mystery, a wondrous catastrophe according to some that contains everything – full of possibilities for change, for love, for joy, for beauty, for sorrow, for purpose, for meaning and for connections.

Things as they are. To be with things as they are, not passively, not lying down and allowing the world to walk over us. Rather to pay attention to the world we live in, with all of its spendour and all of its sorrow, and not to lose sight of  the people, the preciousness of this day and this moment and the opportunity to lend a hand right now.

Impermanence need not be depressing; rather the other side of that coin is desire for life. When we remember, we can take steps right now, today, to right a wrong, enjoy the early autumn foliage, laugh, tell someone we love them, scribble a few words, and not put important plans including our precious lives on hold.

Let’s sing while there is voice left.

Notes

1) The long weekend in Montreal at the Road World Championships, was a wonderful experience – the cyclists that travel at warp speed, the people from all over the world, our own in-house guides who knew the riders, their quirks and strengths, and names- made it all that much more interesting. Thank you Rob and Allison. Such a fun family time. And of course Montreal was a fabulous host city with near perfect weather for the entire time. And everyday starting off the morning at Olive et Gourmand in old Montreal. My absolute favourite.

2) The Temporary Markings were all over Montreal this past week with over 1000 elite cyclists, from 100 different countries and 500,000 plus spectators, over the 8 day duration. A fun and unique opportunity for recreational cyclists was the chance for 6000 of them to ride the completely closed official course right before the professional events began. If you don’t mind crowds it was great people watching and lots of smiles and shared  cheers. Cyclists overall are a good natured group to spend time with.

3) Reminder that I am teaching a program at the ToDo Institute for the month of October with Kate Karius, my friend and colleague from Switzerland. Here is a link for more information and to register. Everyone is welcome. Living Fully with Illness

4) I feel so lucky to have you following along, dear readers, and for your company as we make our way along the ordinary days of living. Thank you! With so much appreciation and gratitude. I hope this finds you doing well enough and finding moments of joy and beauty everyday. Warmest wishes to you all, Trudy

PS My two favourite riders who cycled from Ottawa to Montreal last Thursday 207 KM in under 8 hours. Tired and on cloud 9. My favourite woodpecker from Gabriola Island (thanks Gottfried) and of course the Peloton – the under 23’s if I recall correctly. Thanks Meghan for the photo. Oh yes, Rowan on the right looking at the St, Lawrence.