How one event changed
my life!
2 powerful lessons
learn from one of life’s BIGStuff moments
Michael H Ballard from Resiliency for Life
Well, it’s been many years since this happen to me. Yet almost
every day I approach most every situation from the lessons learned from that
life-altering event from when I was a kid. So many lessons compressed into such
a short period of days.
What is he yammering on about? Well to go back in time before
this event happened to me, I had learned to ride a two-wheeler. I was about
six. I’d graduated from a magnificent three-wheeler to this bright red and
white two-wheeler. My parents had bought it off of my Dad’s sister Hilda, my cousin
Jim’s Mom. As a six years old it was a sweet ride. It meant a chance to gain a
little more freedom. Now, I could go around the whole block up and down the
hill around the (cue joy and awe voice) whole block!
Little did I know after just a few weeks that bike would
“assist” me have a life altering experience. I’ll be the first to admit I was
not that athletic as a kid. Learning to
ride that bike took me on the gravel road we lived on dozens and dozens of times. My father had legs like a marathoner by the
time I’d finally learned to ride. Up and
down, up and down that street we went. Yet I eventually got the hang of it.
Mastery of the bike came slowly to me. Learning to balance, peddle, steer, long
look and short look, brake and signal direction and stop. Did I miss anything?
Writing it down I can hear my Fathers voice from those many years ago like
yesterday. He had the patience of a saint.
Now, to cut to the chase. Out for a ride one bright sunny
spring day a little girl about 3 decided to turn at the last moment and run
in-front of me! I managed to avoid hitting her, however that’s when my life
long lesson started. Seems I can avoid people but not so good at avoiding
things. I went into a shallow ditch and went of and over the handle bars. I don’t remember a
thing after that for 2 or 3 hours. I’m told (Bike helmets where not yet made
for Kids) I went over the handle bars and hit the only rock in the ditch with
my head. That created a headache like I’ve
never experienced before or since.
I ended up with a concussion. Faded in and out for about two
days. I was x-rayed, inspected, weighted and poked and prodded. Now the lessons
started once my parents got me to the hospital.
Once I was diagnosed and placed in my room, I was supposed
to rest. Sounds like a great idea. Except, I had a concussion. Protocals of the
day then stated that a Nurse or Doctor would examine me for swelling at point
of impact every hour and wake me to look in my eyes to see if one pupil was
dilating more than the other was. Tough to get quality sleep if you’re unconscious and or being woken up ever 55
minutes until you stay conscious and are lucid.
The first part of the lesson started about three hours once
I was in my room. I heard adults say it before so I figured I’d give it a try.
“Could I have a pill for my head ache? No, was the quick response. The pain
location and type of pain helps us understand what has happened and what is
happening. So, not nice for you but helps us understand if your healing or
other things are happening. Wow, what a lesson. Stay in the pain and
we’ll learn something from it. Don’t mask it over. Learn from your pain.
Next lesson happened within a few of hours. I was now floating in and out of consciousness. I got a roommate. He too had a head
injury. So an observation room for the two of suddenly got very VERY loud and
bright. What a difference in styles. My injury had me wanting complete
darkness, no sound, and no movement. I was suddenly hyper sensitive to
everything around me. My new roomy demanded (Hey he was also only 6 or 7 – so
we have to cut him some slack) that the lights be on, the blinds open to see
outside, then he proceeded to not do as he was told and stay in his bed to
rest. Things got louder and his behaviour escalated. Suddenly a larger bed arrived with stainless
steel bars like a very oversized crib and he was placed
in it. Then he got really very loud and angry.
That’s’ when I asked to be alone. By now he’d had many hours
of crying, screaming and wailing. His angry was most likely his fears and
frustrations expressed. But wow… my lesson and take away from this are that
two people with a very similar or same issue can have two very different
reactions.
So until next time, Imagine yourself with more Resiliency for Life.
Michael Ballard specializes in helping people, business, schools, organizations
and communities learn how to become more resilient.
To book Michael for your next event or to consult contact
him at:
Michael’s Background and Social Media pages include:
