On August 20 of 2006, I celebrated my 39th birthday in our present flat at Al Nahda Residence Bldg., Al Ghusais, a district on the outskirts of Dubai. Some good friends were present like Brix, Jay, Jake, Mark, and others. It was the usual pinoy inuman videoke party. We enjoyed it so much that the neighbor complained to the building's management and even called our attention later in the evening.
At 39, life has been very generous with me. In my entire OFW career, this was the first time my family got to live with me overseas, with my wife’s relocation to their middle east branch office here in Dubai. Derico’s first taste of school life happened here and he had adjusted well enough. I have bonded so nicely with him that he wanted me to always bring him to his school because other kids' dads are doing it. I was in perceived good health. My company then was issuing my first car in Dubai. And the biggest gift I was getting was the forthcoming of Diego. Lots of blessings indeed.
Last August 20, I turned another year older. I did a quiet celebration with my family. Diego also turned 10 months old.
Life begins at 40, so they say. Whoever coined this expression has got a lot of explaining to do! Because in my reality, weeks before turning 40, I have learned that I no longer have the same healthy body I used to take so much pleasure with. My blood pressure was nearing the borderline of hypertension. And I was feeling chronic lower back aches and right leg pains which were due to my slipped and migrated discs. Carrying of heavy backpacks & luggage, bad sitting posture, incorrect weight lifting at the gym and somewhat abusive lifestyle have taken their toll on me!
Basing on the MRI result of my spinal column, the two arab doctors I have consulted on two different occasions ( an orthopedic and a neurologist) were very eager to do microdisectomy operation on my back to scrape the so called migrated discs and according to their medical wisdom and experience, that was the only way to get rid of my back and leg pains.
My inner self was not accepting it! I knew there should be some better and less intrusive way of rectifying my condition. And so, I began series of conversations with my body in deep reflection while soaking in tub of warm water apologizing for the lack of attention it fully deserved. I told him that I don't want some foreign hands to open him and rearrange his parts
My inner self was not accepting it! I knew there should be some better and less intrusive way of rectifying my condition. And so, I began series of conversations with my body in deep reflection while soaking in tub of warm water apologizing for the lack of attention it fully deserved. I told him that I don't want some foreign hands to open him and rearrange his parts
( or, worse, disarrange !). So, I asked him to repair himself and guide me on how we can both do the works.
Call it placebo effect, but the pain diminished up to a certain extent. Maybe because I have become more aware of my condition through thorough research ( thanks to internet ) and know my limitations as to movement and proper posture.
But then, I didn't discount the idea of eventually getting the operation ( preferably in the Philippines ), so have dutifully informed my immediate boss, an Irani architect named Fatima about it. By coincident, she was also in the same predicament in the past and did not resort to operation. She did yoga theraphy! So, right away, we called her yoga master, an Indian guy by the name of Sanjeev, and met him on the same day. I did a 10 day yoga cleansing and theraphy with him, and my condition further improved. I will discuss this in details in my future post.
Sotirios, a former boss during my 3 year stint in Mindanao and one of my ninongs on my wedding day, called me one day to be updated with my goings-on and I naturally told him about what I'm going through. He is also working in Dubai and met a car accident one time in Dubai Marina. He completely rejected the idea of a back operation for me and strongly recommended the Chinese Medical Clinic which was responsible for the theraphy of his broken arm from the said recent accident. I did a 21 day session theraphy with the said clinic and my condition greatly improved. Again, this will be discussed in details on a separate post.
So there, after undergoing the combined forces of two alternative treatments from the orient, I am now in a better physical state. Don't get me wrong, I'm not yet completely healed but on the way there. I'm taking my sweet time. After all, it took me 4 decades to damage my health.
Life did not begin to me at 40. But I have become more aware of the most important equipment I've got since birth - my body. I have learned to listen to him, be considerate with his needs and be responsible to his maintenance and well being. This body is my buddy for life. . .
Next year, come August 20, I'm turning 41. With what I've learned and experienced at 40, I know that my body's regeneration is out of the question but I'm out to retard it's degeneration with proper food, exercise, lifestyle and positive attitude,if only to give today's forty something male a different form, definition & substance.
