Shot Heard Round

"They certainly give very strange names to diseases." -Plato

Today I choose to whine just a little bit. I'm not looking for sympathy or even empathy for that matter. I just want to tell you about a little issue with my shoulder.

I have developed a bone spur in my left shoulder along with some amount of arthritis in it. The pain is not so bad these days with the treatments but it still aches. A couple of days ago, my doctor injected the shoulder joint with cortisone which seems to be having a pleasing effect.

What I found funny was that the pain exists on the front of the shoulder. The injection was given in the rear of the shoulder. The doctor explained that it gets to the same place, but that it bypasses where most of the nerves are. That means less pain when the shot is being given.

My theory is that the shot is done from the back so that I can't see the needle going in. I doubt that I would be squeamish about it, but then again maybe I would have screamed at the sight. Either way, the shot seems to have done what it is supposed to.

If you ask me how I am doing, I will likely say much better and thank you for asking me. What you also may hear me say is that my medical issues are nothing compared to others. I feel blessed with the health my wife and I have. There are so many people out there with greater pain and worries.

We have friends that are under going many different medical treatments. One just underwent back surgery, another suffers debilitating arthritis and a close friend is undergoing radiation and chemo treatments for brain cancer. Is my little shoulder problem a big thing? No, not in the grand scheme of things.

What I feel many of us need to do is look at our issues in the bigger context of life. Is the need to worry over Kim Kardashian divorcing Kris Humphries more important than going to visit a friend in real need. Maybe we should put our little issues aside and decide that other people are in need. The needs of those people outweigh the pettiness that we sometimes dwell in.

All of us want attention from time to time, but you'll receive more in return by reaching out a hand in kindness to others. Take a meal to a family that is struggling or go visit a friend that is pushing through a medical issue. You could even take a friend out for coffee that has been caring for another person.

There is so much you can do that it will be like a shot heard round the world. People will know of your kindness, people will start repeating your kindness, and pretty soon your own world will be filled with kindness.

My shoulder, it is no big deal. I have way bigger things in my life to attend to.