Dangrously Foolish Thing I Did

"It's always a good session 

if you get through it

without saying 

the "C" word."

- Dr. Joe talking about 

the word "can't"

during a physical therapy session

Today was the first day since the surgery that I awoke and did not have to take a painkiller first thing in the morning. I remained pain free until about noon when I took half a low dose oxycodone before physical therapy. Last night, after anointing a patient with every oil I had in my arsenal to pull inflammation and pain out of a bruised neck, I was kinda jittery. Seems that Qi flows both ways. Instead of being drained from the healing I was energized by this person's massive Qi (not sure why the term "massive Qi" just cracks me up. Thanks, Matt...lol). It lasted well into the morning.

I was on a walk-around-with-everything-brighter high all day.

When I got to class this evening I had quite the can-do attitude

and I had a problem to solve.

There was an overhead light that wouldn't shut off.

It's a three tube fluorescent fixture and it's positioned right over the dry erase board that doubles as my movie screen on which I show my signature classroom videos (click here). The glare from this light was making my videos unwatchable. 

I searched the room for another light switch. 

Found none.

I looked in the other classrooms for a clue as to why I had that one awful light that just wouldn't shut off. Turns out EVERY classroom has one light fixture that stays on. In the other classrooms the fixtures are in various places. Only in mine is it blaring light on the white board.

I know you're thinking that I asked for my classroom to be changed.

Nuh uh.

I examined the light fixture and spotted what looked like an emergency control switch that might shut it on and off. It was hard to get to as the frame of the light was obscuring it a bit. I reached up with my cane and pressed the button. The light dimmed but immediately turned back on when I removed my cane. The switch wouldn't click in. My cane bottom was too cushiony.

My students were filing into class. They saw what I was trying to do.

I looked at them and said,

"You KNOW I'm going to do something foolish and dangerous, right?"

I pulled the desk directly under the light,

sat on the desk and swung my legs onto it's surface.

It was at this point that I realized that I needed to get onto my knees before getting into a standing position. Thing is, I can't kneel.

Well, "can't" is a funny word, more like "shouldn't kneel till Dr. Joe shows me how" and more like

"it really really hurts to kneel".

I had a motivational bug up my ass and I was still buzzing with Qi. My plan was to stand up from the kneeling position as fast as I could so as to be on my knees for the briefest moment possible. The pain was going to be bad. My cane was with me on the desktop.



"Do you want us to have 911 ready to call?" a student asked.

"Yes," I said only half kidding.



"Do you want one of us to do it?" another student asked.

"No," I replied, "I don't want to risk your getting hurt."



In a swift motion I flipped onto my knees. I was on all fours. The pain kept its promise.

"ahh, f*ck...God!"

I half screamed through gritted teeth.



I stuck with the plan.

I quickly got up from the all fours position to a standing position using the cane.

Whew. I was sweating and panting.

Now for the light switch.

I braced myself by putting one hand on the ceiling and reached over with the other to shut the switch.

It wouldn't shut.

The button dimmed the light when it was pressed but it wouldn't stay.

"Unscrew the light bulbs,"a student suggested.



I reflexively said, "I can't."

knowing  how hard it is to unscrew fluorescent tubes.



Then I realized how stupid that was. I had come this far. Didn't I owe it to myself to at least try to unscrew the light rods?



Every muscle in my core was engaged to help me keep my balance.

The effort was excruciating.



I rotated the first one.

Success!

It shut off.

Then I turned the second, then the third.

The lights were off.



My students started to applaud.

"Not yet!" I cautioned, "Not till I get down!"



Again I had to kneel in order to climb down from the desk.

I growled through gritted teeth and then swooped down off my knees to a sitting position with my legs dangling off the desk.

"Ok, now you can applaud."



As they applauded me I nodded and reminded them,

"Never let anyone tell you what you can't do!"



*Lisa's Video Pick of the Day*

This is a testimonial from a successful client of Josh Rubin.

I can't wait to make one of my own!

click here or click below