Learning New things about myself

So during the last few months, and particularly in recent weeks, I'm learning new things about myself.  I've always thought that I was fairly easy going, moving along life's path riding the waves and with a few exceptions coming out the other side intact.  

Over the years I have spent time learning more about me, doing some self examination and have a better understanding of who I am.  I've become much more self aware.  So it comes as some surprise to me now, when I find myself fretting.  I'm about to have surgery, a knee replacement, not a small thing I know, however what I have learned so far about myself is that despite the easy going exterior I show to the world, I really like to control the environment I live in and how I show up!  With this surgery I have to let go, I have no control around what is going to happen to me, other than say no, and believe me at this time it is not an option if I want to have a better quality of life as I age.  I have done everything I have been told, shown up at the pre-rehab information session, worked on the exercises given and more, re-organized in my mind not only that session but also the whole pre-admit process in BC hospitals!  Sent out a spreadsheet to friends to organize my life after surgery, reorganized my bedroom and home to accommodate me during that time of learning to walk again.  Ensured that friends and family are contacted after surgery letting loved ones especially know that I'm out and fine.  And yet.... I still fret!

And so it's a time of learning, I'm amazed at the generosity of friends, of others who have gone through this operation and are willing to share their learnings.  I'm also interested to listen to others who rather than encourage and applaud the decision to move forward with this operation, are negative.  Quite frankly if another person tells me it is going to hurt like hell I think I'll scream - those that do for the most part haven't had the operation themselves, but they know.  They continue about how difficult recovery will be, and how I'll not be able to do certain things!   I find myself curious, why are they so negative?  What is driving them to make such comments?   It has made me conscious that I should be more mindful of comments I make when speaking with someone who is facing a hard decision, or who has made one about moving forward - what assumptions am I making about their decision, is it my life I'm basing those assumptions on, or theirs?  Why be so negative when someone has obviously thought things through?  

It's just over a week before I go into hospital and I find myself working to still my mind of worries, fears about the what ifs?  What if something goes wrong?  What if I don't make it?  Have I got my papers in order (of course not!).  What if ?  Minds are funny things, we can't control what passes through but we can control our reaction to them.  So what if something goes wrong - I can't control that, but I have trust in my surgeon, I know that the team working on me are on my side, that they will do everything in their power to make sure nothing goes wrong, the admit process that I am so critical of is just one of the check points to ensure that I am ready and able to undergo this surgery - I need to accept this and not stress out about what I can't control, rather focus on what I can - ensuring I eat well and am as prepared as I can be both before and after surgery - I follow instructions rather than knowing better than the experts.  Again it makes me think about how much energy we put into focusing on our fears, usually fears of the unknown.  So now I'm focusing on 'So I'm out of surgery, all is well, how can I ensure my recovery is the best it can be?'  What do I look like three months from now, six months?  What am I doing?  Walking with friends, hiking maybe in a year I'll be snow shoeing up that same mountain that was the location of the accident that was the start of this three year journey - life will be good, because I will make it so - I'll be back in the driving seat, in control!

ps.  A friend sent this link to a TED talk about how our body language shapes who you are!  Enjoy

http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html

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