CONSIDER THESE...

Sunday, July 22, 2007

My BOOK

CONSIDER THESE...
''Self-Acceptance, IS One Of My Struggles''

.
---Well, I finally had an opportunity to put some of my ''writings,'' into some sort of book. This has been a dream of mine, since the 60's. It is NOT that I haven't tried and aborted many attempts. But, for some reason, it just never has come together, as it has now.
---CONSIDER THESE..., contains about 25 entries of my essays and poems. Some of the material is NOT on my blogs. There are a few pictures, also. The whole book is very short - only 46 pages.
---I have been writing all my life. My first, was, basically, ''The Adventures Of Bob Lund.'' It was 62 pages, and typed by my Cousin Linda T. There was one copy and I think there was a price and all. 60 cents. It wasn't very good, but when we were bored, my friend Hempty would drag it out and read it aloud. I wrote the book at age 8, and was listening at age 26. The loudest laughter may have come from me.
---A strange aside to this is that I had met someone named Bob Lund, who came to see the Bobby Darling Show, quite frequently, back in the late 70's. Bob's girlfriend, at the time, was very interested in reading the book. I remember being on stage at The Blue Max, and her being in the audience, reading in earnest. It seemed as though she thought that she was going to discover something about real Bob Lund. It would have been funny if she had.
---Back to CONSIDER THESE.... If I meet someone with this name, I, myself, will begin to wonder...and read in earnest. The main focus is around the fact that it really is OKAY to BE YOURSELF. The reason I say this is because, being born missing four fingers on my left-hand, I found myself almost forced into realizing this fact. But, what a great blessing it was, when I finally did.
---I have met many people who are trying to be someone they're not. Most people aren't even aware of this. I know I wasn't. We ALL have what we need inside, but are so busy looking outside, that we don't see this. Stop competing and comparing. Learn what Love, really means, as a fact. Stop focusing on if you feel loved or not. You will stumble across it. Guaranteed. It is in there. Take Care.

My Book Is Available On Lulu.com

On BEING...YOURSELF

''You Are Probably NOT Spiderman...Or, Anyone Else.''
.
---Whenever I say, ''Be Yourself,'' I find myself wondering if people know what I mean by that. I hope that it is understood that I am NOT saying, anything goes and nothing matters. Do anything you feel like doing...etc. That is NOT what it means - To Be Yourself.
---I am saying - find out who you, yourself, are, and be that person. And that it is okay. You usually find who you are, by going within. It begins by telling yourself the truth about how you feel about things, and blossoms or unravels or grows, from there. It is what I mean when I say, ''You watch yourself UNFOLD, from within.''
It is growth in the understanding of what ''LOVE,'' means. Your - TRUE - Self, is LOVE. Be Well.

To Be YOURSELF...GOOD

BE WHO YOU...ARE -
.
I SAY YES TO DIFFERENCES IN ALL OF US
I SEE THAT WE'RE MADE MUCH THE SAME
BUT IT'S THE DIFFERENCES THAT SPICE IT UP.
.
SOME PEOPLE ARE SUBTLE,
SOME ARE MORE OVERT
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING IN EVERYBODY
AND THE WAY THEY DEMONSTRATE
WHO THEY ARE

THE ENTIRE PICTURE IS IN ALL OF US
WHO WE ARE IS IMPORTANT --
LIKE IN A JIGSAW PUZZLE,
THE PIECE YOU PLAY IS YOURSELF

BE YOURSELF AND DON'T COMPROMISE
AND YOU'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH
THAT THE ONE YOU SEEK IS YOUR TRUE SELF
SO, HAVE FUN, WHEN IT'S THERE

The KIM J. Version -

---Though, Hempty may still like, ''The ADVENTURES Of Bob Lund,'' better. It would be a toss-up. Here are some of the nice things, Kim J. said: (Photo Of Kim J.)

''What A Beautiful Book You Have Made. The Written Material, The Photos And The Cover Are Well-Chosen. Nicely Done.''

(Kim J. Is The TAI-CHI Instructor At The Hospital.)

Kim J. Story, As It Appeared In Hospital Newsletter -

http://www.mediafire.com/?cyhcidjxyan

A ''LEFT - HANDED'' Compliment

Paul C., Says -

(About Book)

---Everyday at 3:30 Paul H. stops by my office on his way to exercise in the therapy gym. We typically chat about the day's events or other commonalities. We've both recently been in the market for a computer and we've been sharing opinions about the different possibilities. On Tuesday of last week, Paul wheeled into my office and handed me a book. Actually I can't say he handed it to me because he doesn't have a hand on one side and is so tremulous with the other hand that he can't hold things without dropping them. I'd never asked Paul why he didn't have a hand and the subject never came up in conversation, but when he gave me the book it brought back memories of another friend of mine.

---Several years earlier, when I first started working at the hospital, I was carpooling with a group of other hospital employees. Being new to the city and the hospital, I as anxious to find friendships and the carpool seemed a good way to get to know some of the folks I worked with. As it happened, one of the members of the carpool was missing a hand in almost the same fashion as Paul. In my eagerness to get to know the group I nonchalantly asked Nancy what had happened to her hand. During the next 45 minutes she explained the whole story of getting her hand caught in a leaf cutter and all of the details of the ensuing physical and emotional trauma. By the end of the ride she was crying with the telling. She apologized for her emotion, telling us that she hadn't actually told the story in many years and was surprised herself by her reaction. This surprised me because the other carpool members had been riding with Nancy for over 5 years. I asked one of them later if anyone knew Nancy's story, but no one had thought to ask. That morning ride was a defining moment in the group and helped to solidify some relationships that I carry to this day.

---Paul gave me the book and excused himself from my office with only a brief comment that he hoped the book would be useful. Ironically, in the first chapter Paul tells the story of his hand. He said that most people assumed that he had lost his hand in an accident, but the truth was he was born without it. He tells of a painful childhood where he made great efforts to hide his hand by sticking it deep in his pocket, even among people that knew he didn't have the hand. He goes on to talk of how he gradually embraced his loss by forcing himself to keep the limb out in the open. While I was reading the story it occurred to me how I had been hiding some of my own missing parts and how there might just be value in bringing those into the open. In other words, the telling of Paul's story touched my life in a deeply personal way.

---In the carpool I had thought to ask the question of how Nancy had lost her hand and that ultimately led to a deeper relationship with her and the others in the group. Paul's story had a similarly compelling effect, but I could have gotten there sooner had I thought to ask. We talk about patient centered care from the perspective of trying to make a home like environment, or scheduling things according to our patient's needs, but we seldom take the time to ask and we don't expect to be changed ourselves. It's in the asking that not only gives us the appropriate perspective but can ultimately lead to fundamental changes in who we are as individuals.

Paul C., was a MPT, GCS. He was, also, Rehabilitation Coordinator. In May of 2008, Paul C., took another job and left the hospital. More on our relationship on - At The HOSPITAL...blog. Thanks, Paul C.