Is it time for you to Call the Man?
I had one of life’s unpleasant lessons re-taught to me today with a most satisfying outcome.
I say, “re-taught,” because this is one of those lessons that we all get the pleasure of being reminded of, over and over.
You’re lucky. As you’re receiving the benefit of my error. I’m sharing it so that you may avoid the mistake I’ve been making.
My story begins ten days ago, in the swimming pool, tossing my son into the air so he could make big splashes. With one heroic hoist with my good arm, I sent him hurling ten feet into the air (or so it seemed) and as he came splashing down my left ear went silent.
“Okay, I know this feeling,” I said to myself. “It’s just water clogged.”
For the entire time in the pool that day I tried unsuccessfully to release the pressure. It wouldn’t let go.
Later that night I finally gave up, hoping the morning would bring relief. It didn’t.
Virtually deaf in my left ear, head under pressure with a steady echo I began the next day and every day since.
During my week and a half of suffering with what became a depressing, life altering struggle I tried just about every home remedy known to man. I used drops, hot water rinses, decongestants to dry it up… I even used the infamous ear-candles that, if you’ve never seen or heard of them, really have to be experienced. Pretty wild…
I did it all with not even the slightest hint of release.
My general care doctor was convinced I had some sort of “inner ear tubal inflammation” that would need intensive anti-inflammatory treatment. I didn’t want any part of this.
I did however spend a few nights reading on the possible implications of having the potential ear problems that were being guessed at. Not good, not comforting at all.
Rather then medicate I opted to seek a closer inspection. After searching for an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat doc) that could see me sooner than three weeks, I finally found one close by. One who’s front desk support recognized that I’d been suffering for well over a week and said, “To heck with an appointment. Just come in tomorrow.”
How refreshing that was.
Sweet Relief
So, after ten days of silence and all sorts of failed trials, frustration, difficulty and subtle fear, the doctor took one look in my ear and said, “Ah, got it. I’ll have you out of here in two minutes.”
He promptly did his ear clearing magic thing and informed me it was just normal ear blockage that happens some times and the pressure packed it.
I could hear! I instantly felt alive again. It was the world in stereo.
Wild to think that something as small as a clogged up ear can take such a massive toll on my life, energy, and mood. There’s no doubt I was short tempered, not sleeping, unable to focus and depressed.
When the Doc relieved my pain so quickly, not only did I feel a ton better but I also a bit foolish.
“Wow! That’s all,” I said.
“Geeze… It could have been so much more,” I thought quietly, unsure if I was disappointed.
The truth is I needed it to be something more to justify the time and attention to take care of myself. It’s a crazy thing that your life depends on you but yet it can be so challenging to attend to the care and maintenance of one and the same.
Hopefully you’re hearing perfectly well at the moment—so you’re without that constant reminder that there’s something you need to take care of, something that’s keeping you down, holding you back in life that you’re not attending to at the moment.
I’m here to be of service. My experience reminded today that some times that thing we’re putting off, that area of life that needs a-fixing, isn’t as big a deal as we’ve made it to be.
Just by being attentive to what’s up, being pro-active and taking the time to ask for the help, to “call the man” when you need an expert or someone on your side can get your life back to crystal clear like my ears in no time.
The Life Lesson Is…
The life lesson I’m sharing is really a two for one. First, to take action when it’s time for action—not later.
Secondly, to “call the man,” the right expert when you need it. That may be a trainer when you need get fit, rather than going it alone on courage and a good book. That may be coach when you need a new path for your life or even a counselor when you’ve been struggling hearing each other in your relationship for too long.
Whatever the case may be in your life, you know there’s something you’ve been putting off for too long.
Please accept this invitation, my somewhat embarrassing reminder of knowing when it’s time to stop delaying and “call the man.”
Now is the right time.
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OMG, Shawn! I’m so glad he was able to fix it. Wow, that’s so scary! I was afraid you were going to say you hurt your neck or… worse… Phew. I’m glad you went to see the expert.
I had a recent reminder of this as well. I found out that all that diet and exercise helped my blood lipids – I have all the good factors except for 2 that are genetically determined. No matter what I do, eat or think, these are always going to increase my risk of heart attack and stroke. Right doctor, right treatment, and I should be set. If I’d kept reading the Internet and listening to others, I’d still be at risk for heart attack and stroke.
I’ve wondered for myself, and I bet you have insight into this, why it’s so much easier to believe/trust the words of ‘holistic’ or ‘alternative treatment’ rather than going to find the right expert. Any thoughts?