Take care of the little things and the big things shall fall in place', is one of my favourite sayings. We always try to tackle the biggest problem first. But if you think about it, tackling the smaller issue of lesser significance, might solve or lessen the intensity of the problem that seems to loom larger than life. We stress ourselves for no reason at all. Life is full of surprises, some pleasant, unpleasant – it all depends on how we react. The key is to take whatever life throws at us in our stride and keep our chin up through the difficult times, and learn to have fun during the happy days!
My father is a vibrant personality, always up to something and can't keep still for a minute. Even in his sixties, he still has a spring to his step, a confidence that I have always enviously admired. He still takes chances and risks like a young guy, brushing off our admonishments to be careful.
Well lady luck might have left his side one afternoon when he had a nasty tumble down a short flight of stairs. After a quick trip to the emergency room, an x-ray revealed a small hairline fracture on his right leg. This demanded that the leg be put in a cast for it to heal well and to prevent any movement to the injured area. With his good health and strong bones, the doctor had no doubt that he would be back on his feet in no time, with a short spell of physiotherapy thrown in as well.
Even though we were concerned, secretly we were happy as he would now be a bit more cautious and take things easy for a few weeks. Unlike most people, sitting idle is something he absolutely cannot do. And for someone like this who hates to be dependent on others, the weeks before the cast was removed were miserable, to say the least!
It seemed like our prayers were answered when he started to take things easy after the cast was removed. Well too easy, infact;from the spring in his step, dad now shuffles about, a walking stick to boot. The doctors said his leg was as good as new, but it seems he doesn't trust them anymore. Physiotherapy isn't also doing the job. What he is lacking is that old confidence about him, something which medical science can't deliver. I thought it was time for me to step in and do some damage control.
What dad actually needs is to regain the trusthe had in his physical well-being, his legs in particular!And, there's nothing like small everyday challenges to help him slowly regain his confidence. Saturday is our day to spend time together and we usually end up having lunch some place. For a change, I booked ourselves a table on board a Sydney Harbour lunch cruise. Going on board a luxury vessel that cruises the calm waters of Sydney Harbour, strolling the outer decks and taking in the harbour views should be a decent challenge for anyone, right?
Dad was mildly surprised by the choice of venue, a lunch cruise, but seeing the Sydney sights never gets old, so he shrugged and went along with the plan. Besides, he had his trusty walking stick with him in the back of the car, for tackling the obstacles on the boat. But little did he know that I had conveniently forgotten it back home!
When we reached, he was a bit apprehensive about getting on the vessel, but with warm encouragement and assistance from the crew, he was on board in no time. There was an option of going up to the wheelhouse to meet the Captain, and dad surprisingly didn't mind climbing a flight of stairs to do so. Holding my hand, he made the climb up and had a good time talking to the Captain seeing how things worked.
After a few minutes of chatting we bid goodbye, thanking him for his hospitality. And in the excitement, dad forgot to hold my hand and walked down the stairs talking enthusiastically about the instruments in the wheelhouse, forgetting everything about his leg! When we reached the end of the stairs, I reminded him of what he had just done, and dad smiled. He strolled the outer decks, with a tad bit more confidence, took in the fresh air and the picturesque Sydney Harbour sights. When the lunch cruise was over and the vessel returned to the wharf, he politely refused assistance from a crew member who offered to take his hand. He said he had reacquainted himself with his legs!
Needless to say, dad got back the spring in his step and was back to his old self. To think all it took was a little bit of courage and a lunch cruise around Sydney Harbour! So there you have it, sometimes it is the little things that need taking care off and the big things will just fall into place!
Martin Wynn
