Musings: life transformations | Arthritis Information

I’ve been reading a book written by a Jewish Rabbi: Alan Lew called “Be Still and Get Going”. It’s about meditation practice from the perspective of Jewish traditions. The author observes that the major, important transformations that take place in our lives are always preceded by a process of leaving that which makes us secure and comfortable…transformation is not possible within a safe and easy environment. There is no urgency to take steps towards the unknown and its uncertain risks.

“We leave the comfortable, the secure, the habitual, only when forced to do so, and the proximate cause of our leaving is very often a matter of life and death. What is it that usually disrupts our habitual patterns and brings us face-to-face with our lives? Some crisis, some trauma, often of the life-threatening sort. We lose a loved one, or we are faced with a life-threatening illness ourselves…These are the kinds of events that usually lead us to a radical break with the past assumptions of our lives. We don’t make this kind of break for fun.”

Alan Lew

Sounds like my experience with RA! My life was very comfortable and secure. I thought I knew what the future would bring and I was not anxious to change anything. I’m intrigued by this idea of being forced to leave our comfortable circumstances behind as a first step towards discovering a life transformation that will deepen our understanding of ourselves and help us to mature into more empathetic, caring people. It seems to me we live our lives in a culture that is often shallow and superficial, yet we are all capable of great depth of character…if sufficiently motivated…or forced…to discover it. Maybe our dark cloud does have a silver lining, if we are wise enough to see it.

I hope you find peace and joy in your life,

Alan

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“We leave the comfortable, the secure, the habitual, only when forced to do so, and the proximate cause of our leaving is very often a matter of life and death.

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That certainly applies to my life. I had many situations that happened to me before I got RA that completely changed my viewpoint on life. Quite a few of them were life threatening. My daughter was reminding just last night of all the nightmares that I have lived through.

All the fundamentals that I was raised and indoctrinated with were challenged. I had to change in order to survive. I thought that was enough. But here I am with RA, having to change once again all my preconceptions and my dreams about life.

I wonder if at the end of all this present life, I will become someone of beauty. Not the external kind as I see it fleet away, useless in the end. But the kind of beauty that bears gifts to others. That's what I hope my confrontations, my journeys leave for others. Yes, tidbits of beauty, hopes and compassions. For that legacy, I will endure a bit of pain.

Deanna39012.6423148148

Deanna~

You do bear gifts to others. Your posts here are compassionate, informative, and very real. You don't need to wait to the end of this present life, you are already doing it.

My dark cloud of RA does have a silver lining. I am able to be home to raise my family, I have become a much more informed person, patient person, and giving person.

I feel RA helps us to also "think out of the box" to meet the unique challenges that life throws at us whether it has to do with our RA or not.

After reading what Alan posted (thank you by the way for getting me thinking), I think I am going to embrace change and the uncertainity it brings with it a little differently. I am going to embrace it with a positive attitude and get myself informed about the next step I will be taking in life.

I totally agree with you Gramma and I thank Alan for starting this post. Everything that happens in our life changes who we are and what we may become. The secret is to embrace that change and go on.
Not always easy, but necessary.
And Deanna, you have already become someone of beauty.Thanks for being you.
Jeez, kinda makes you afraid to get comfortable and secure - there's a train wreck just around the corner! Perhaps, but it's not always a train wreck! Sometimes the most extraordinairily amazing things happen when you decide to venture far from the secure, comfortable path. This morning I had an opportunity to play in our church worship band in front of about 300 people. It was an awesome experience! Since I was diagnosed with RA, I've felt a greater sense of urgency to do things that I had constantly put off...now I had to accept the fact that I might not be able to play for much longer. So...leave your fears behind and make your dreams come true while you can. I know that's not always possible but today I'm feeling optimistic.

I really do agree with what the author is saying. I was living a life of materialist things and not spending quality time with my family. RA has forced many changes including quitting my job (career) and moving to a smaller town and a country house. Now I appreciate what I have and the good days, I spend sooooo much more QUALITY time with my kids, my life has been simplified. It has not been easy..it has been scarey and stressful. I would have liked to do this a long time ago, but would never have actually done it without the push from RA. I think my perspective on my life, and the lives of my kids has changes. I believe that I am gaining a new perspective of other people as well.

Thank you for posting this excerpt from the book...it is so true, I think for all of us.

Good post, Alan. BTW, any more of your original poems likely to appear here?I love reading Bhuddist writings. Alan, You might enjoy a book called the Art of Forgiveness. It is full of great insights. Thanks for the posts and good for you that you played in front of your church this morning. I used to be so afraid of speaking in front of an audience, my worst fear and now it is so easy for me. Amazing - WE CAN CHANGE AND ADAPT.It is no wonder I keep coming back to this site. You are really a lovely bunch of people.

Dessy,

I'm a compulsive writer. It's one of the most effective therapies for me...that and playing the mandolin. So...more poems are almost certainly destined to appear! There's a Halloween poem I'm working on. It's rather dark and has nothing to do with RA...we shall see!

Alan