You gotta love mud – especially as a child. Sloshing around in the mud and mud puddles is a universal joy shared by all children.
For us in Ohio the mud ushers in spring. The snow thaws leaving a mud pit in our backyard to be enhanced by the spring rain.
But the mud also gives way to other wonders. I recently experienced the nighttime awe of salamander migration to their ancestral breeding pools. It was on the scale of magical up there with my love for fireflies. The rain and mud enabled them to safely cross the road
to the vernal pool to lay their eggs. Amazing!
Mud also signifies the challenges in life. I’m sure you’ve heard Thich Nhat Hanh’s quote – No Mud, No Lotus. “The secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering, not to run away from it.” Pausing to find meaning in the challenges and suffering, not rushing to fix it. Recently I got to put this into practice.
As you may know I had surgery mid-February and was to immediately go on a different oral drug (Parp inhibitor.) For the past two years I so wanted a new tattoo, but my oncologist said that I couldn’t get one due to low blood counts. I had a short window of time after surgery and before starting the new drug to get the tattoo. With the help of a friend, we got it done! I wanted a lotus flower, but added the shape of lily pads to honor my mom and dad who grew up on Spanaway Lake. I love this tattoo and all the symbolism it has, both as a daily reminder of no mud no lotus, and of my parents.
Back to the challenges…here she rolls… after my follow-up appointment the doctor approved starting the new drug. My insurance carrier denied the claim, so the drug company’s patient assistance program was contacted. They needed us to appeal the denial, which was also denied. The program finally approved my assistance and the drug was to be in my hands in 3-5 days. When it didn’t arrive, I called and found out it was actually 5-7 working days to process, and then ship.
The timeline had already stretched to weeks, so they said they could ship it now when I noticed there was an error in the address, which they fixed. Or so I thought. The address was still wrong and FedEx would not release it to me because my driver’s license did not match the address. So, the drug was shipped back to the manufacturer. A new shipment was processed, again in that 5-7 day timeline. Are you starting to feel my frustration bubbling up? Thanks to the assistance of a helpful customer service agent amidst my tearful call she was able to expedite the shipment. To say I was frustrated is an understatement.
My wise husband said you can’t get frustrated over things you cannot control. Hello – why didn’t I think of that! Oh, yeah I was too busy having a meltdown, imagining the delay would hasten the cancer’s return. Yes, the challenge and frustration was right in front of me, but I had the choice of how to respond. So, by the time the drug showed up, I was in a much calmer state. Reflecting on my new tattoo helped me remember through the mud the lotus flower blooms.
The lesson brings me back to the love of mud. We all have challenges and suffering, usually things we cannot control. But we tend to forget that others are forging the same path. So, next time you see someone in the mud, don’t just help them up by trying to solve the problem, share how you have been (or are) there too. Acknowledging we have challenges and are working through them may be the inspiration they need.
We are all children sloshing in the mud, isn’t it more fun (funner) to do it together.
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