“Any knowledge that doesn’t lead to new questions quickly dies out: it fails to maintain the temperature required for sustaining life.” – Wislawa Szymborska
I’m cold. It’s a bitter 12° outside today and a blistering -5° when you factor in the windchill. I’d venture to say it’s the coldest day of the year, but sometimes they all feel cold. Such is the result when the body’s thermostat is broken and you are unable to regulate your temperature.
I’m hot. Outside, people need to brace themselves as they move from building to car, car to building, bundled up like an Eskimo as their chattering teeth cry out for some global warming. Inside, though, I’m burning up and want the thermostat setting at 70°. A few hours ago it was set at 76°, then lowered to 68° before being raised back to 72°. Now it’s a balmy 70° but I might have to raise it again as I’m starting to grow cold. I feel clammy, a little sweaty in my 70° apartment. After all, it did heat up to 16° outside.
I’m cold again. No, I’m hot. Oh forget it, I don’t know what I am. All I know is that I keep a dry washcloth on my lap so that I can have people wipe my face every few minutes as it starts to feel wet again. However, my face is dry as a bone, no sign of moisture, but rather a few dry flakes. Sometimes if I wear a hooded sweatshirt while inside I can fool my mind into thinking my body is dry. But it doesn’t always work and it’s back to fidgeting with the thermostat.
Hot, cold. Up, down. This whole body temperature thing is definitely in the top three things I hate about living with a broken neck. I don’t think I’m in limited company when it comes to feeling this way. Ask anyone with a busted spinal cord and you’ll probably get the same answer, “I’m always cold. I’m always hot. I never quite feel comfortable.” The weather forecast is calling for 44° next week. Woo hoo, I might just have to break out the frisbee!
Fortunately, I appreciated every single warm weather day last summer. Each day as I headed outside, I consciously told myself to enjoy it, to revel in the warm sunshine and be grateful for the beautiful day God granted me. That’s something I didn’t do enough of before my injury. I thought I appreciated every little gift in my life, but in hindsight, I realize there was so much more to appreciate. It’s easier now to be thankful. And I also realize that I can be even more thankful. Actually, I see now that you can never be thankful enough.
You can never be thankful enough. Any one of our situations can change in the blink of an eye, and sometimes the change can be as bracing and extreme as a nor’easter or a relentless hurricane. It’s just as easy to slip and fall on an ice patch or skid off the road in a vehicle as it is to dive into a soggy lakebed hiding under shallow water. Some things are just as uncontrollable as the weather forecast. But as I’ve said before, what is controllable is how we react to our situations, how we choose to appreciate our good fortune, what we learn from our hardships and what we thank the good Lord for at the end of every day.
It’s days like today that I long to be back on the beaches of Cancun or Punta Cana. I’ll be honest, it’s tough not to miss the feeling of barefoot feet in the sand, the smell of salt on the skin, or the sound of crackling pages turning in a good book. I don’t know if I will ever get those days back. But I do look forward to the sunny days that are four months away. However, even those days aren’t guaranteed and I’ve learned to not put off my happiness, my appreciation and my gratitude for the things that I have in my life.
You never know when things will change. But one thing I do know, is that things can change, and sometimes they can change just as fast as the thermostat setting in my apartment!
On a completely unrelated note, besides the fact that she lives in sunny Florida, Wednesday, 1/23, is Traci Nichols birthday. She will be donating $1 for every birthday wish she receives to Getting Back Up, so feel free to leave her a birthday wish in the comments section below. Thank you, Traci!
And as always, thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and support!
Stand Strong!
Scott
Wow, didn’t you just explain the whole hot/cold I’m a quadriplegic with a broken thermostat annoyance perfectly! Everyone always says my room is so hot when they visit and see the thermostat cranked to 76-78°F, but hey, that’s my happy place and they can just shed a layer and deal with it!
Probably the best thing I did when I built my new house was to put 200 ft.² of glass on the southern side. During those cold blistery winter days when it’s so cold outside, but the sun is shining brightly, wheeling forward into the sunlight is almost like taking a mini vacation to summer as you feel the warm sunshine hit your skin. Makes it way easier to get through the long Maine winters!
Definitely right there with you about enjoying every single warm weather day! Before my injury, I always did my darndest to enjoy the sunny days, but the 8-5 job often got in the way and made me miss out on some of the most extraordinary of days. Now I’ve realized how important it is to seize every moment and always find myself making minor adjustments to my schedule/workflow so that I can enjoy the precious moments. Sometimes that means sliding a project/blog post a day to visit with a good friend, and other times it means planning ahead several weeks so that I get all my work done and can enjoy an extended bout of sunshine. Whatever it is I always make sure my life and commitments reflect the truly enjoyable times, and that always leaves plenty of time for enjoying the warm sunshine!
Love reading your post, and can’t wait to connect further.
-Mike
Happy belated Birthday Traci and thank you for what you do for Scott. Keep the positive thoughts Scott, and God bless.
i here you on the cold weather.. i don’t have a broken spinal cord so because of age and meds cause this condition for me.. very damp cold weather causes more aches and muscles to tighten.. i am either adding clothing or reducing depending on how i feel.. SORRY FOR THE LATE REPLY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACI!! i also have said a prayer for you so expect a Blessing comming your way… God Bless You Scott, i am praying daily for you my friend…
Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes and contributing to Scott’s cause! The total (FB+blog+a few stragglers who didn’t post but went by text, phone or email) is: $246. I had hoped for more, but it’s a start!! And, it has been by far the most rewarding way to celebrate a birthday: by helping others! Thanks again….and Stand Strong Scott! 🙂
Happy Birthday Traci!
Nice comments on gratitude, Scott.
Happy Birthday Traci!
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday dear Traci…
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Traci!
Happy BirthdaY !
Happy Birthday !
Happy Birthday Traci!!
Happy Birthday !
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday !!!!
Happy Birthday Traci!!!!!
Happy Birthday, Traci! Hope you have a wonderful celebration.
Happy Birthday Traci Nichols!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACI!!!!
Happy Birthday Traci!
Hi Traci! Happy Birthday on this very cold day. At least the 20 candles will warm things up a little. Enjoy your very special day!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACI!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU SCOTT!!!
Happy Birthday, Tracie!!!!!!!!!!!!! B
Happy birthday traci…always enjoy reading your inspiring post Scott…
Feliz dia de nacio, Traci!
Well said Scott. I DO appreciate my life and I thank God for it each and every day of my life. I hope you and Melanie are keeping warm and I wish Traci a Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday Traci. Great post!
HBD Traci!
Scott, another powerful and moving message from you! Thank you for your thoughts. Happiest of Birthdays to you Traci!!!
Happy Birthday Traci Nichols!
Happy Birthday Traci. Have a good one..
Happy Birthday Traci!!! Glad you are in the somewhat WARM South!!!
Happy Birthday Traci,
Cheers to you !
Happy Birthday Traci. We celebrated your day over at Scott’s on Saturday.
Many of the folks here at Trex still keep up with your postings and we rejoice with you and the progress that you are making. We have faith that you will continue to gain strength in your body as you continue to give us strength with your words – through God who strengthens us. You are a true blessing to everyone who reads your inspirational messages, knows you personally and/or knows of you.
Traci – Warm wishes to you for a Blessed and Happy Birthday from a very cold place in Virginia : }
Happy Birthday Traci!
Happy birthday Traci ;).
Scott, thanks for continuing to remind us not to put off being thankful for everything and to be happy everyday!
Hugs!
Ricky & Patty
Happy Birthday Traci, Scott I really love reading your blog. Such an inspriration!! My niece had a brain stem stroke at the age of 24 and is a quad and cannot speak. She has some movement in hands to run computer. She is also such an inspriration. She has the same great attitude that you do. Crissy is now 31.
Happy Birthday Traci!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Happy birthday, Traci! Hope you have a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday Traci! Hope it’s wonderful!!
Happy Birthday, Traci. Thank you for your creativity in helping Scott.
Scott, you better start working on a collection of your posts!!
Wishing you Traci a beautiful day
Hopes and dreams I’m sending your way
May all be good and all come true
On this very special day for you!
Happy Birthday!
Have a wonderful birthday Traci. God bless you. Scott too!
Happy Birthday Traci, you sound like another amazing person – like Scott !!
What a wonderful idea! Happy Birthday, Traci!!!
Happy, Happy Birthday Miss Traci!
Happy Birthday Traci. All the best
Happy Birthday Traci!
Keep the faith Scott and God Bless!
Happy Birthday Traci and many more . . . .
Cheers, Mike
Happy Birthday Traci N..having an attitude of gratitide is a healthy way of life.
Thanks for the reminder Scott.
This is an amazing post. You are amazing
Happy Birthday, Traci! No balmy weather here in SD. Cold,cold,cold!
Happy Birthday Traci 20 times over since I missed wishing you so for last 20 years.
Thank you for the great message, Scott and Happy Birthday, Traci!
The happiest Birthday Traci!
Happy Birthday Traci!
Happy Happy Birthday Traci!
Happy Best Birthday Ever Traci!
Happy Special Birthday Traci!
Ok..is that a $5.00 donation?
I want you to be laughing enough to forget the annoying Temperature! And I want a $5.00 donation!
Hello, Scott, I’m sending loads of warm Arizona sunshine your way.
and Happy Birthday, Traci, and many, many happy returns.
Thank you for your powerful words and perspective Scott, you are incredible. Happy birthday Traci!
My thanks to you Scott for sharing your wisdom, humor, inspiration and continuous positive outlook.
Happy Birthday Traci-fantastic idea!
As always, thanks for helping us slow down & practice gratitude. And a very happy birthday to Traci!
Happy Birthday Traci!
Happy Birthday Traci !
Scott. You will always inspire me.
Happy birthday Traci.
Happy Birthday Traci. Have a wonderful day tomorrow.
Happy, Happy, Traci!
Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Traci, happy birthday to you! Does that count as 4?
Happy birthday Tracy!! Love you Scott!!
It’s cold here in La Grange KY too but I will start thinking of it in a little different way as you have chosen to do. As always, enjoy your writings so much! Happy Birthday Traci! May you have a very blessed day!
I just keep thinking that I have to quit my bitchin’ about the cold weather. I have nothing to complain about. Scott – I love you and you inspire me every day. Sending you prayers for comfort today!
Happy birthday to Traci too.
This is the day that the LORD made Traci.
We will rejoice and be glad in it!
Besh wishes!
I needed to be reminded of this today Scott, thanks! God bless
Happy Birthday Traci!
Happy Birthday, Traci! Each day is a gift ~ enjoy.
Happy, Happy Birthday, Traci!!! Hope you have a sunny day to celebrate!. :0)
Happy Birthday Traci!!!! Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!