Friday, May 3, 2013

Some thoughts from my time in the hospital

Granted, it's no Letter from a Birmingham Jail, but a few people thought this was worth sharing...

April 30, 2013

My name is Renee L and I am currently in the hospital. I hope to be out as soon as possible, and am doing my level best to play the role of a "good, compliant patient" to the hilt.

But, know this--and I say the following without a trace of hubris or "primadonna" attitude...

I really AM smarter than the average patient.  But, you know what? So is EVERYONE I have met here. NO ONE is able to be their best, most competent self under these conditions.  But EVERYONE is more than a label or a diagnosis. Everyone has some God-given gifts/talents/abilities that they are ACHING to share with the world. 

We are ALL better than our limits, our illnesses, our disabilities or (in my case, especially) our innate "klutziness".

And, given half a chance, and a little help, we are MORE than willing to prove this to the rest of the world.

Given the nature of the human body--it DOES wear out eventually, no matter how much we try to deny this reality, or stave off the inevitable. But, even when we reach that point, we still have SOMETHING to give, as long as you let us. You might need to be still, and look and listen carefully in order to discern just what that something is. But I promise you, it's always there, right up until we take our last breath.

And maybe even after that. (I'm looking at you, Grandma Z.)
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Someone I met in the hospital read this, loved it, and told me I should write a book. According to "official sources", she was a "crazy person", or "mentally ill" depending on how nice you want to be about it. 

But I still might write that book one day...

2 comments:

listener said...

Yes...write the book. You have my vote. What a great way to use your creativity and have a concrete use for all the thoughts that are floating around for you these days. You are a writer by nature, so why not let yourself write?

"We are ALL better than our limits, our illnesses, our disabilities..."

Amen!

Renee in Ohio said...

Totally want to be.

Having a rough week, but it's too much to explain right now. Halfway dressed and Mom is on her way to pick me up at Paul's place.