"I have learned over the years,that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear, knowing what must be done, does away with fear." ROSA PARKS.
I am sure all of us at some point of time in our lives, have had to be like Rosa Parks, fight for ones rights. This is my first blog, and I would like to start by writing something about myself, before I go on to the title of my blog. Jos-Axe-a-size.
Are you wondering why I used the quote by Rosa Parks, and why the title "The Power of the Mind". As a little girl, I was the most scared person, one would ever have known. Scared of people, insects, scared to cross the road, or even walk over a bridge, with the train running under it. I was scared to speak, scared to ask for something to eat, if ever I was hungry. Scared of the whole wide world.
My best friends were my books, and I could devour them like a hungry person, I can proudly call myself as "WELL READ" even today, I have loads of books in my house, and I keep buying and reading as much as I can.
However, very early in life I leared that somehow I had to get over this fear. I had to become strong in mind and spirit.
At the age of 7, I was diagnosed with polio in my right leg. This was in the early fifties, a time when polio vaccine was not discovered, and so the only remedy was wearing braces, with iron rods attached to a boot and strapped with a huge leather belt on my thigh. The boot weighed a ton, I had to actually drag my leg in order to lift it. I was told that I would never be able to walk, run dance and do the things that normal children do. and that these boots would be my life long companion. And in order to balance my body, another heavy boot had to be worn on the other foot, but without braces.
I would limp all the way to school, and I became the laughing stock of all my friends and others. They called me "langdi". I could not bear the taunting and the teasing. I always came home crying out of self pity. One year down the line, I stopped wearing the boots. My parents were livid with rage...but something inside me whispered that I could heal myself of polio. I needed my leg to be a part of me, and not just an appendage, lifeless and limp.
From then on all I did was nurture my leg, everyday at bathtime. I would massage the leg, speak with it, and will it come alive. I would speak words such as" You are a part of me, and without you I am incomplete" " I need you, you have to come alive, to make me whole. " The first few months, nothing happened, but six months later, I could feel the shape of my leg changing, it used to be misshapen and lifeless, now, I could touch it to the ground, which earlier it was impossible. Slowly and surely, a year later, my leg had regained its normal shape. I could touch it to the ground, I could walk without a limp. I could wear the bathroom chappals with two straps, where earlier, I could not push my foot into any shoes, or slippers, with ease. I was so happy.
I still had a limp, but I began to teach myself, how to walk like a lady, straight, one foot in front of the other. surely and certainly a few months down the line, and I was able to walk without a limp. My dream of a complete body, happened.
The next check up with the doctor showed that I had no polio absolutely. It was the happiest moment of my life. I had won my first battle with the power of my mind. I had made a choice, and I stuck to that choice of giving up wearing the boots. This proved the doctor wrong. Today I am a fitness professional, teaching fitness for 6/7 hours at a stretch. I can jump, dance, run, teach kick boxing etc.
I believe that life is sacred, and it is very important to live a life of our choice, and never to take life for granted even for a moment. Living the good life is living the life of moral excellence that leads to happiness. There is always good in a bad situation, we can train our minds to see the good, and to do good in the darkest moments of our lives. It is such experiences that make us better human beings, and make us more receptive, towards the pain of another person. Jomarie
There is more to me...in my next blog...
I am sure all of us at some point of time in our lives, have had to be like Rosa Parks, fight for ones rights. This is my first blog, and I would like to start by writing something about myself, before I go on to the title of my blog. Jos-Axe-a-size.
Are you wondering why I used the quote by Rosa Parks, and why the title "The Power of the Mind". As a little girl, I was the most scared person, one would ever have known. Scared of people, insects, scared to cross the road, or even walk over a bridge, with the train running under it. I was scared to speak, scared to ask for something to eat, if ever I was hungry. Scared of the whole wide world.
My best friends were my books, and I could devour them like a hungry person, I can proudly call myself as "WELL READ" even today, I have loads of books in my house, and I keep buying and reading as much as I can.
However, very early in life I leared that somehow I had to get over this fear. I had to become strong in mind and spirit.
At the age of 7, I was diagnosed with polio in my right leg. This was in the early fifties, a time when polio vaccine was not discovered, and so the only remedy was wearing braces, with iron rods attached to a boot and strapped with a huge leather belt on my thigh. The boot weighed a ton, I had to actually drag my leg in order to lift it. I was told that I would never be able to walk, run dance and do the things that normal children do. and that these boots would be my life long companion. And in order to balance my body, another heavy boot had to be worn on the other foot, but without braces.
I would limp all the way to school, and I became the laughing stock of all my friends and others. They called me "langdi". I could not bear the taunting and the teasing. I always came home crying out of self pity. One year down the line, I stopped wearing the boots. My parents were livid with rage...but something inside me whispered that I could heal myself of polio. I needed my leg to be a part of me, and not just an appendage, lifeless and limp.
From then on all I did was nurture my leg, everyday at bathtime. I would massage the leg, speak with it, and will it come alive. I would speak words such as" You are a part of me, and without you I am incomplete" " I need you, you have to come alive, to make me whole. " The first few months, nothing happened, but six months later, I could feel the shape of my leg changing, it used to be misshapen and lifeless, now, I could touch it to the ground, which earlier it was impossible. Slowly and surely, a year later, my leg had regained its normal shape. I could touch it to the ground, I could walk without a limp. I could wear the bathroom chappals with two straps, where earlier, I could not push my foot into any shoes, or slippers, with ease. I was so happy.
I still had a limp, but I began to teach myself, how to walk like a lady, straight, one foot in front of the other. surely and certainly a few months down the line, and I was able to walk without a limp. My dream of a complete body, happened.
The next check up with the doctor showed that I had no polio absolutely. It was the happiest moment of my life. I had won my first battle with the power of my mind. I had made a choice, and I stuck to that choice of giving up wearing the boots. This proved the doctor wrong. Today I am a fitness professional, teaching fitness for 6/7 hours at a stretch. I can jump, dance, run, teach kick boxing etc.
I believe that life is sacred, and it is very important to live a life of our choice, and never to take life for granted even for a moment. Living the good life is living the life of moral excellence that leads to happiness. There is always good in a bad situation, we can train our minds to see the good, and to do good in the darkest moments of our lives. It is such experiences that make us better human beings, and make us more receptive, towards the pain of another person. Jomarie
There is more to me...in my next blog...
