This was his biggest wheelchair adventure to date. He needed a chair to get around downtown Santa Fe. He needed it for restaurants. The resort had some long winding sidewalks so he was able to get out a bit and walk, but crowds, movement, narrow doors and crossing the street are all impingements to forward momentum.
That in turn sort of turned on me, showing me it was not about 'fixing', but loving; not about doing for, but giving and not about changing, but accepting. With that came to mind an old Chinese proverb
- Watch your thoughts, they become words.
- Watch your words, they become actions.
- Watch your actions, they become habits.
- Watch your habits, they become your character.
- Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.
These wonderful words from the past deserve to be repeated. I am thinking that I need to make myself a card to place by the sink, a daily visual of how I should treat Russ, how I should treat others. Russ showed me during this last week of utter relaxation, that by changing my experience (thoughts, words, actions, and habits) I have an incredible opportunity to care for him with an enriched character. I want to gift him with that.