Keeping our dignity and sanity INTACT
There are times silly things come and visit us when we least expect it and our reaction — We beat ourselves and I am one of these people. But I am learning this occurrence the hard way. I need to practice and prepare myself this unsuspected visit before it hits me again.
This weekend, I can’t believe that two cards — a debit and a credit card — slipped out of my pocket without noticing them. One was when I was taking pictures of leaves, and the other was when I was bicycling in a park. In order not to bring my thick wallet with me, I handpicked the card I would be using and slid in my pocket. But the drawing of my mobile phone out of my pocket to take pictures caused cards to slipped out without even aware of it; that drove me crazy and that led me to berate myself quietly. I’d like to avoid by buying another wallet that takes only a few cards and cash with me. I hope it will prevent accidental slippage out of my pocket. Luckily, one card that fell down to the ground was picked up by our gardener and the other was found by a resident in this area. Ernesto and Michelle.
Even awkwardness can lead to silly accidents, a mistake on doing simple things, falling while dismounting a bike, a simple walk led to twisting an ankle and so on.
A friend of mine in Andalucia was running and twisted his ankle and found out a fracture later on and was sidelined for months. He is an avid runner and this kind of thing is unimaginable. Like what they say, “shit happens”!
How would we react to this? Being stoic and the reality that ‘shit happens’. Taking things in humor. It isn’t easy especially when it creates disruptions to our daily lives and being embarrassed because you fell down in front of a crowd. At times, the event is our own making which happened to me a number of times.
Last summer, I was cycling down the Via Verde and this was the last stage of my bike for the summer. I was elated that the was is all down hill starting from Horta Sant Joan, that you even have to pedal. Then, I had a beer, then I had a half-bottle of wine and lunch. I was all smile. Then, I came to a stop in front of a restaurant full of people, my cleat got stuck and couldn’t pull it out on time. I fell down, then when I dismount I fell down again — double whammy — in front of a crowd. I must say, it was the alcohol. I raved at myself. However, there was a group that came up to me and helped me out. I was so embarrassed. But it could have been worst. It could have led to a big accident. I learned a lesson from this and will keep my dignity intact. That half-bottle did it. I could have lied down and took a siesta.