Today, I’m sharing some real talk about resilience from my hospital bed. I just went through a tough time, losing a pint and a half of blood, but I’m here to tell you about the lessons I’ve learned as a quadriplegic. I’ve got three key insights that I think are super important: embrace the present, appreciate your body, and accept things as they are. Life can throw us curveballs, but fighting against reality just makes things harder. Instead, we can find strength and peace in our current situations, and that’s what I’m all about in this episode. Let’s dive into this journey together!
Podcast is a little different, I was rushed in the hospital a few days ago and had major surgery but all good. And I share the three things I wrote out last night that I think my main lessons in finding in a piece and building resilience.
Life has a way of throwing curveballs, and in this episode, I share a personal account from my recent hospital stay. After losing a significant amount of blood and undergoing emergency surgery, I found myself reflecting on my life as a quadriplegic and the lessons I've learned. I dive deep into three essential insights that have shaped my understanding of resilience: the illusion of alternatives, the silent oath of our bodies, and the futility of resisting the now. Each point is grounded in my own experiences, highlighting the importance of embracing the present moment, honoring our bodies, and accepting our realities. The essence of my journey is about thriving despite struggles, and I invite listeners to find strength in vulnerability and peace in acceptance. As I navigate these challenges, I hope to inspire others to embrace their own journeys with courage and focus on the here and now.
Takeaways:
Embracing the present is crucial; it's the only reality we truly own and control.
Our bodies, despite their limitations, work tirelessly for us, deserving our utmost gratitude.
Acceptance of the present is not a defeat; it's a pathway to inner peace and wisdom.
Fighting against the unchangeable is futile; embracing it leads to tranquility and growth.
Life's struggles can be transformed into strength when viewed through a lens of gratitude.
Resilience stems from our ability to embrace vulnerability and focus on the now.
Transcripts
Speaker A:
So I don't know how this is coming out or how loud, but I'm Stephen Webb and this is Stillness in the Storms.
Speaker A:
And this podcast is completely different.
Speaker A:
It's recorded from the top of my head.
Speaker A:
Sat in hospital last week.
Speaker A:
I was brought in here after I lost like a pint and a half of blood and everything went quite wrong in my life for a few days.
Speaker A:
I was.
Speaker A:
Had an iron infusion, I had a blood transfusion over the weekend and they operated Monday morning.
Speaker A:
It's now Tuesday and I'm hoping to go home tomorrow.
Speaker A:
So I really don't know.
Speaker A:
There's voices now in the background, but hopefully you can hear this.
Speaker A:
But I wrote out three things last night about what I think is the most important things and I thought I would read it to you.
Speaker A:
So.
Speaker A:
Embracing Life, A Quadriplegic's guide to Unyielding Resilience.
Speaker A:
So you have to bear in mind, I'm lying in bed here, I've had an operation and I've got a new seat for power.
Speaker A:
I, I'd rather stay in my bag fitted so, you know, a new superpower that I can, I can see myself go toilet without a mirror.
Speaker A:
Yeah.
Speaker A:
Oh, come on, we gotta laugh at everything, aren't we?
Speaker A:
But yeah, I don't even have to get out of bed to do that now.
Speaker A:
How awesome.
Speaker A:
If you listen to my other podcast about 10 reasons it's awesome to be paralyzed, I've now got 11 reasons or 12 reasons.
Speaker A:
Anyway, let's go back to this.
Speaker A:
So as I reflect on my journey, a 32 year odyssey as a quadriplegic, I'm compelled to share insights and transcend my.
Speaker A:
That transcend my physical confines.
Speaker A:
These aren't just thoughts.
Speaker A:
They are the essence of my resilience.
Speaker A:
The pillars that uphold my spirit and face the relentless trials.
Speaker A:
So number one is the illusion of alternatives.
Speaker A:
In life, we often gaze at the past or fantasize about the unseen future.
Speaker A:
Imagining alternatives to our present reality, we ponder what if yet this mindset is a mirage, a deceptive escape from the now.
Speaker A:
The truth is.
Speaker A:
The truth is stark.
Speaker A:
The present is the only reality we own.
Speaker A:
It's not about whether the grass is green or anywhere else.
Speaker A:
It's about nurturing the ground between beneath our feet.
Speaker A:
My paralysis taught me this, that the alternative is not just irrelevant, it's non existent.
Speaker A:
Our power lies and embraced in the present with all its imperfections and challenges.
Speaker A:
We evolve imagination to improve our future, not to conjure alternatives to the present moment.
Speaker A:
Number two, the body, Silent oath.
Speaker A:
Our bodies, regardless of their state are unspoken heroes.
Speaker A:
Mine, despite its limitations, fights tirelessly every second to sustain me.
Speaker A:
This realization cultivates profound gratitude.
Speaker A:
Your body, in whatever form, is your lifelong companion, striving relentlessly to support your existence.
Speaker A:
Honor it, cherish it, and recognize its silent oath to keep you alive.
Speaker A:
Number three, the futility of resisting the now.
Speaker A:
There's a deceptive allure in waiting to mould, or wanting to mold the present into something it's not.
Speaker A:
We struggle, we fight.
Speaker A:
We exhaust ourselves trying to alter the unalterable.
Speaker A:
This battle is the epitome of futility.
Speaker A:
Acceptance is not defeat, it's wisdom.
Speaker A:
Embracing the present as it is, without resistance opens up a path to tranquility.
Speaker A:
In accepting the unchangeable, we find peace.
Speaker A:
And as a bonus, the power of integration.
Speaker A:
As a bonus insight intertwined with these three philosophies.
Speaker A:
And the incredible transformation occurs.
Speaker A:
You gain a profound mastery over the present and paradoxically and paradoxically influence the trajectory of your future.
Speaker A:
This symphysizes.
Speaker A:
This synthesis is not mere optimism.
Speaker A:
It's a pragmatic approach grounded in the reality of our existence.
Speaker A:
These insights are born from my life's extraordinary challenges, yet they are universally applicable.
Speaker A:
They are not about being paralyzed or physical limitations.
Speaker A:
They are about the human experience.
Speaker A:
They are about finding strength in vulnerability, peace in acceptance and power in the present.
Speaker A:
As we navigate the tumultuous seas of life, these principles are my beacons.
Speaker A:
They are reminders that resilience is not just about enduring, but about thriving in the midst of our struggles.
Speaker A:
They are invitations to you to embrace your journey with courage, gratitude and the unwavering focus on the now.
Speaker A:
Embrace these truths and watch your life transform, not because the world changes, but because your perspective does.
Speaker A:
This is the essence of true power, the ability to find inner peace and strength, no matter your circumstances.
Speaker A:
So I just wanted to read that.
Speaker A:
It's just something I wrote last night when I couldn't sleep.
Speaker A:
One o' clock in the morning, of all the buzzers in the hospital going, laugh.
Speaker A:
We had a guy in here with dementia that was shouting.
Speaker A:
We had people in there snoring before I was asleep, before I started snoring.
Speaker A:
And it's difficult.
Speaker A:
The nurses are overworked.
Speaker A:
They haven't got time to get to everybody.
Speaker A:
I'm still in a lot of pain.
Speaker A:
I'm sweating.
Speaker A:
Yeah, it's difficult.
Speaker A:
Life is a challenge.
Speaker A:
I'm hearing all the stories and seeing the people suffering around me.
Speaker A:
There's nothing we can do about this situation.
Speaker A:
We are in it here we are jumping up and down and complaining about it is not going to change it.
Speaker A:
And I know I talk about this a lot, but it's the reality.
Speaker A:
We can try to wait for the perfect moment, or we can accept the moment as what it is and then work towards a better future.
Speaker A:
So thank you for joining me on this mini podcast from my hospital.
Speaker A:
Bad I should have pulled the currents.
Speaker A:
Actually, it might have been a bit quieter, but I had a small gap between visitors and I was feeling a little bit better without my sore throat on some painkillers.
Speaker A:
So thank you to my supporters.
Speaker A:
Thank you to all of you that have bought me a coffee.
Speaker A:
If you'd like to support this podcast, Stillness in the Storms, just helping you through difficult times, you can.
Speaker A:
It's the irony actually.
Speaker A:
It helps me through difficult times as well.
Speaker A:
Here I am in this difficult time now.
Speaker A:
So if you want to support the podcast, head over to stephenweb.uk and that will really help.
Speaker A:
And anyway, to share, comment, email me, contact me or whatever you want to do.
Speaker A:
Just thank you and I will be out of hospital tomorrow and hopefully do a podcast for Friday.
