Often in life, we get surprised with something we weren’t ready for, or at least ill-prepared to deal with. That is life’s way of giving you a sucker punch, and pushing you to your limits. Sometimes we just have to get ourselves up, albeit slowly sometimes, brush ourselves off and proudly say “Is that all you got!”. So why this post? I am trying to inspire all of you, how am I doing so far?
I know some of you might think, why get up? and that is a very valid and important question. Why get up? We could just lay there, sulking, kinda hard to get hit to the ground again if we are already there, right? But then people are going to walk by you, wondering what happened to you, wondering what caused you to get there to start with. Why give that much satisfaction to the thing that toppled you down, why let it be the winner here. You don’t have to, you can get right back up, deal with it head on, and say it with me everyone, “is that all you got!”.
Lately for the past couple of years, I have felt knocked down quite a bit, 2 years ago, I really had to stop working as a Paramedic, I found that my body just couldn’t take it anymore, and it began to tell me so the week I got hospitalized a few years back. Now I bet you are all thinking, why didn’t I get up and take my own advice, well partly I am, partly that is why I am writing this post. I have given my heart, body, and soul to helping people all my life, from childhood on up, to 23+ years in the Medical field, whether in an Ambulance, an Emergency Room, working in an ICU, or in Occupational Medicine, I gave it all.
Now I am having to file for disability, never thought I would, always thought I could work my way through. Since my time in the Military and in Desert Storm/Desert Shield, and all the years working, one instance in October 1998 changed everything, a 4000 pound van fell on me during a rescue call, 4 doctors thought it was the end of my career, and that first night could have been the end of me. They all said I should file then, but I was persistent, went through a year of the most painful physical therapy I could imagine, just to gain enough strength and confidence to return to my squad. I did just that, a year later. I came back with a pain of 5/6 everyday though, and I worked like that another 13+ years, till a couple of years ago my body and mind couldn’t take it anymore, not my heart though, there I am forever a Paramedic. So now my daily pain is about a 9 or 10 depending on the day.
I hope to show you that yes, you can be knocked down, but you can get up and hold your own again, maybe not in the same capacity as before, but at least with pride of not giving up. That is my goal, to keep my mind going, to write and publish this blog, to pray I get approved for my disability, as I have given my all over my lifetime to those in need.
So “Is that all you got!” is going to stay with me daily. While my body and mind might say different, my heart will diligently always be strong.
#life #pain #body #EMS #paramedic #Ohio @SocialSecurity
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Thanks for sharing your philosophy. It’s usually mine, and has been for years. I worked in the legal field as a legal secretary and paralegal for over 30 years. I have always had problems with my health, starting with a kidney disease at the age of 4. I was adopted and they did not allow me to stay in bed, but instead I had to participate in all life has to offer. I had always worked until I was laid off in April, 2012. I realized how worn out I had become and so instead of searching for another job, I finally listened to my doctors and filed for disability. I could have filed 20 years ago, but I had always planned to work until I was 70. I’m 58 now and my 24 year old son lives with me. He helps me so much. Anyway, thanks for the article. I was having a pity party today and needed to read your wise words. I got the Social Security disability approved in less than 2 months. If you haven’t filed yet, give Allsup a call. They are nationwide and they have attorneys working for them, but they assign an agent to your case and they really take care of you. Check out their website. If you need to delete any of my post, feel free. I just wanted to help you, the way you helped me today.