If it hurts...

It is a common misunderstanding that leprosy is a disease that causes limbs to decay and dismember. Although partially, true, let me clarify.

Leprosy is only the contributing cause to the loss of limbs. Leprosy causes nerve damage which results in a loss of sensation. That loss of sensation leads to repeated injuries which then lead to tissue damage and - finally - loss of limbs and other disfigurations.

You see, nerves are meant to warn us when something is too hot, or too cold, or too tight. Nerves communicate pain - which is a protectant.

I have lately taken up yoga lessons. My patient spouse is diligent in her collaboration with the teacher to keep me from overdoing it. What the teacher tells me (repeatedly) is that "if this hurts, you're probably doing it wrong".

Of course, I - like you - continue to overdo and, as a result, unnecessarily injure myself. My most recent result is a pulled left hamstring which has me hobbling like the 59 year-old male that I am.

If this hurts, you're probably doing it wrong. Simple. But not easy.

I - and maybe you - have spent my entire life doing things that hurt me. In the past I stayed in an abusive, unhealthy relationship for much too long. And although I told myself it was for the good of the kids, I'm not sure the pain we endured gave us much to show for the suffering.

As an INFJ, I go through most of my days like the square peg desperately forcing myself into round holes.

I do things because I "should" or simply because I always have. And many of these things hurt.

I hope to god that soon - I will listen to the wisdom of my yoga teacher.

Breathe. Relax. And whenever it hurts, stop and change my pose.

dg 

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