7 Lessons from an Unexpected Date

I reckon being ill as one of the great pleasures of life, provided one is not too ill and is not obliged to work till one is better.  ~Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh, 1903

Often surprises create positive emotions within us. Maybe like surprise birthday parties, surprise proposals, or surprise gifts.

Other times surprises wreak a bit of havoc on our emotions. Perhaps like a large cell phone bill or an unexpected break-up of a relationship. Or even like my recent unexpected date with the operating room and the subsequent longer-than-expected and longer-than-desired recovery period.

But, hey, I just happen to have this ongoing project of 52 Dates with Myself.  And, as the project leader and manager, I have full authority to determine what constitutes a date. So, yes, a surprise date in the OR most definitely gets counted!

Besides, look at just a few of the things I’ve learned so far: 

• Wheel chair drivers really should have to take a driving test.
• IV – doesn’t mean I have to give the same nurse “4″ times to get the intravenous drip set.
• Pain pills often have acetaminophen, so be sure you do the math before the brain fog from the narcotics kicks in.
• When you’re near the top of the emergency triage list, you get to witness and experience the full professionalism of the medical staff.
• My capacity for exhaustion is much larger than I ever imagined.
• My tolerance for pain not so much.
• Recognition and gratitude for caregivers can never be overdone.

In spite of all this, I still prefer the dates I get to choose and plan.

Ponder & Chat: What lessons have you learned from one of your life’s surprises?