Boy do I get what you’re saying. The unfathomable acceptance lurking behind all the necessary grief, disappointment, uncertainty and rage. So glad you’re sharing this Michael. I’ll be right here alongside you!
I know, right! It’s crazy how perplexing the idea of acceptance seems in situations like the ones we’ve both experienced.
Thank you, Kimberly. I really appreciate that and I’m very thankful to hear you’ll be reading along.
Also, I just want to say it as I feel it bears being said: your memoir is definitely one of the things that inspired me to share this story. And so, I don’t really know how to even begin thanking you for that. . . but yeah, your awesome. :)
Michael, I’ve been waiting for this one since you mentioned you might write it. What a beautiful introduction— the realness, the struggle, and the hint of two ends of a long bridge in the you before and after.
And oh my, do I get what you’re saying about the difficulty of acceptance. This is a thing I am currently personally working through. I recently met a pain psychologist, who struck that point home.
Can’t wait to read the rest. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Holly. There are a few things that finally pushed me over the line to start writing this piece and you sharing your piece a little while back about your current struggle was certainly one of them. I really hope my story can be helpful in some way.
And I know, right! I feel like there is a lot of talk out there about accepting things but not that much about how hard that often is to do. I’m happy to hear you’re seeking help from a pain psychologist because I certainly believe, (as I will convey later in the series) that the mind and the body are connected in ways that make treating our pain just as much a physical act as a mental one.
Thank you, Robin. I’m so glad you liked it and I’m very happy to hear it hooked you — that was certainly my aim. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series :)
Thanks for sharing this, Michael. I've struggled with back pain my whole life too. Recently, its been bad and I'm having the same thoughts you write here. It's hard watching an "I can" become "I used to"
I am so sorry to hear that, Will. Genuinely, I know how hard it is and I wouldn’t wish it on anyway.
And I totally agree, it is so damn hard watching things fall by the way side at the hands of our pain. It’s upsetting in a way I can’t begin to describe.
Bravo for your courage to share this story Michael! It takes a lot of bravery to write about something that feels vulnerable, and congrats for cultivating the courage!
May it be liberating for you, and May it serve your readers.❤️🙏🕊️
Thank you, Camilla. I really appreciate that. It feels good to be sharing this story despite my fears.
And without, giving anything away, I believe there will be parts to this story that you will personally enjoy, especially considering I’ve read a lot of your writing and know some of the themes that come up. How’s that for a rascally teaser? Haha :)
Thank you, Donna. I can’t convey how much I appreciate that. I am actually very excited to share this series and I do hope it is helpful in some way to others.
And thank you for your continued support and encouragement— I’m definitely gonna keep going :)
I’m sorry you went through this; I had lower back surgery in 2019 after two years of intense pain. I am curious to continue reading and following you as you reach this new health and perspective that you have on it now, especially as you read “old” words written from the front lines of that pain from the safety of the present. Thanks for putting this out there.
Thank you, Michael. I’m looking forward to sharing the series and I hope you enjoy it.
Also, I’m sorry to hear about your own back pain experience.
Did surgery help you?
And have your written about that experience? I don’t remember reading anything about it, if you feel so inclined I’d be very interested to read your story.
Ohhhhhh yes! I’ve been waiting for this one! I’m so, so glad you decided to share this. Because if you don’t *know,* then you can’t know. And when you finally do…yeah. All the platitudes make it worse. They can leave you with even less of an idea of how to get through it because “but everybody else is able to…(accept, be grateful, buck up, suck it up and…) so what’s wrong with me that I can’t?”
The fact that you’re bringing us with you into not merely the bodily pain but the much deeper underlying and exacerbating pains, and how it changed you…so important! The body really does keep the score. Thank you already!!
Arghh yes, the pain of the platitudes is a pain all it’s own hahaha
And thank you, Alexx I really appreciate that. I’m excited to share this series and, as you said, explore how bodily pain causes so much mental anguish.
Indeed it does.
Also, I’m psyched to hear you’re all in! — bless you :)
Thanks for sharing this Michael. Beautifully and vulnerably written in your wonderful style of self deprecating humour and super observant empathy. An important piece of writing I look forward to reading more.
I'm practicing for the blurb review on the back cover of your book Michael.
“Michael leads us on a journey through the challenges of life using the real hard knocks of skateboarding lessons. With self deprecating humour and a super observant empathy he holds a mirror up to each of us and asks us whether we have the grit and determination to get back on the board every single time.”
My husband is just coming off 2-1/2 year struggle with long Covid, blood clot, antibiotic-resistant infection, and antibiotic overkill which destroyed his gut biome. It's been terrifying and grueling. I "look forward" to reading about your own ordeal because you just never know when something like this can strike and I'll take all the perspective I can get. Thanks for sharing Michael!
I’m sorry to hear that, Troy. These health issues we and our loved ones battle are so hard, and, as you said, they often come out of nowhere, which makes them even worse somehow.
I hope your husband is on the mend. And, as always, thanks for being here brother, it is much appreciated :)
Titty-lated - the suspenders are killing me - well done ME sharing and showing your vulnerable underbelly - courageous and potentially evolutionary - Bravo
Feeling this piece in my bones, Michael. Also, coincidentally, I had severe shoulder pain at about the same time and I remember feeling so lost and angry.
What an interesting coincidence! I’m sorry to hear about your shoulder pain. And yes, persistent pain like that is so confusing and infuriating— it’s a real journey sometimes getting through it.
Thank you, Priya. I really appreciate you being here :)
Hey, thanks for sharing. Glad that person is unrecognizable to you now. Looking forward to part 2!
Thank you, Angela! I’m glad also. And I really appreciate your comment and I hope you enjoy the series. :)
Boy do I get what you’re saying. The unfathomable acceptance lurking behind all the necessary grief, disappointment, uncertainty and rage. So glad you’re sharing this Michael. I’ll be right here alongside you!
I know, right! It’s crazy how perplexing the idea of acceptance seems in situations like the ones we’ve both experienced.
Thank you, Kimberly. I really appreciate that and I’m very thankful to hear you’ll be reading along.
Also, I just want to say it as I feel it bears being said: your memoir is definitely one of the things that inspired me to share this story. And so, I don’t really know how to even begin thanking you for that. . . but yeah, your awesome. :)
Michael, I’ve been waiting for this one since you mentioned you might write it. What a beautiful introduction— the realness, the struggle, and the hint of two ends of a long bridge in the you before and after.
And oh my, do I get what you’re saying about the difficulty of acceptance. This is a thing I am currently personally working through. I recently met a pain psychologist, who struck that point home.
Can’t wait to read the rest. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Holly. There are a few things that finally pushed me over the line to start writing this piece and you sharing your piece a little while back about your current struggle was certainly one of them. I really hope my story can be helpful in some way.
And I know, right! I feel like there is a lot of talk out there about accepting things but not that much about how hard that often is to do. I’m happy to hear you’re seeking help from a pain psychologist because I certainly believe, (as I will convey later in the series) that the mind and the body are connected in ways that make treating our pain just as much a physical act as a mental one.
Thanks again Holly :)
I’m hooked! What an incredible opening essay - I feel your pain and your skepticism/worry over just what it’s all about.
Thank you, Robin. I’m so glad you liked it and I’m very happy to hear it hooked you — that was certainly my aim. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series :)
It is never easy to expose your most vulnerable parts, Michael, but it is liberating.
Hear hear! I couldn’t agree more. Writing this series as certainly felt that way. It’s freeing in a way I didn’t expect.
Thanks Fotini it is much appreciated :)
Thanks for sharing this, Michael. I've struggled with back pain my whole life too. Recently, its been bad and I'm having the same thoughts you write here. It's hard watching an "I can" become "I used to"
I am so sorry to hear that, Will. Genuinely, I know how hard it is and I wouldn’t wish it on anyway.
And I totally agree, it is so damn hard watching things fall by the way side at the hands of our pain. It’s upsetting in a way I can’t begin to describe.
I hope you can find some relief.
And I hope my story helps in some way.
Thanks Will :)
I know a thing or two about chronic low back pain myself. Looking forward to seeing the unfolding of this story.
I’m sorry to hear that, Victoria. It’s a pernicious little beast that chronic lower back pain. I hope your managing to keep on top of it.
And thank you, I hope you enjoy the series :)
Bravo for your courage to share this story Michael! It takes a lot of bravery to write about something that feels vulnerable, and congrats for cultivating the courage!
May it be liberating for you, and May it serve your readers.❤️🙏🕊️
Thank you, Camilla. I really appreciate that. It feels good to be sharing this story despite my fears.
And without, giving anything away, I believe there will be parts to this story that you will personally enjoy, especially considering I’ve read a lot of your writing and know some of the themes that come up. How’s that for a rascally teaser? Haha :)
This may be the most important thing you have ever shared Michael. This work is going to help many people, please keep going.
Thank you, Donna. I can’t convey how much I appreciate that. I am actually very excited to share this series and I do hope it is helpful in some way to others.
And thank you for your continued support and encouragement— I’m definitely gonna keep going :)
I’m sorry you went through this; I had lower back surgery in 2019 after two years of intense pain. I am curious to continue reading and following you as you reach this new health and perspective that you have on it now, especially as you read “old” words written from the front lines of that pain from the safety of the present. Thanks for putting this out there.
Thank you, Michael. I’m looking forward to sharing the series and I hope you enjoy it.
Also, I’m sorry to hear about your own back pain experience.
Did surgery help you?
And have your written about that experience? I don’t remember reading anything about it, if you feel so inclined I’d be very interested to read your story.
Thanks :)
Ohhhhhh yes! I’ve been waiting for this one! I’m so, so glad you decided to share this. Because if you don’t *know,* then you can’t know. And when you finally do…yeah. All the platitudes make it worse. They can leave you with even less of an idea of how to get through it because “but everybody else is able to…(accept, be grateful, buck up, suck it up and…) so what’s wrong with me that I can’t?”
The fact that you’re bringing us with you into not merely the bodily pain but the much deeper underlying and exacerbating pains, and how it changed you…so important! The body really does keep the score. Thank you already!!
Hashtag All In!
Arghh yes, the pain of the platitudes is a pain all it’s own hahaha
And thank you, Alexx I really appreciate that. I’m excited to share this series and, as you said, explore how bodily pain causes so much mental anguish.
Indeed it does.
Also, I’m psyched to hear you’re all in! — bless you :)
You make it easy and enjoyable, my friend.
Yes, looking forward to more. The brain body relationship is fascinating. Thank you for sharing the vulnerable squishy stuff.
Yes, it really is a fascinating connection. I will be exploring it quite bit throughout this series.
And thank you, I really appreciate that. :)
Thanks for sharing this Michael. Beautifully and vulnerably written in your wonderful style of self deprecating humour and super observant empathy. An important piece of writing I look forward to reading more.
“... self deprecating humour and super observant empathy.”
— I must say, I very much like the sound of that description, April. Your compliments are welcome and greatly appreciated haha.
Also, thank you, I’m looking forward to sharing this series, and I hope you enjoy it. :)
I'm practicing for the blurb review on the back cover of your book Michael.
“Michael leads us on a journey through the challenges of life using the real hard knocks of skateboarding lessons. With self deprecating humour and a super observant empathy he holds a mirror up to each of us and asks us whether we have the grit and determination to get back on the board every single time.”
A substack subscriber
Ha ha, hope you like it 😂
Hahaha omg, I love it! You are awesome, April! That totally made my day :)
My husband is just coming off 2-1/2 year struggle with long Covid, blood clot, antibiotic-resistant infection, and antibiotic overkill which destroyed his gut biome. It's been terrifying and grueling. I "look forward" to reading about your own ordeal because you just never know when something like this can strike and I'll take all the perspective I can get. Thanks for sharing Michael!
I’m sorry to hear that, Troy. These health issues we and our loved ones battle are so hard, and, as you said, they often come out of nowhere, which makes them even worse somehow.
I hope your husband is on the mend. And, as always, thanks for being here brother, it is much appreciated :)
Titty-lated - the suspenders are killing me - well done ME sharing and showing your vulnerable underbelly - courageous and potentially evolutionary - Bravo
Thank you, Emmett I really appreciate that. :)
Feeling this piece in my bones, Michael. Also, coincidentally, I had severe shoulder pain at about the same time and I remember feeling so lost and angry.
Thank you for sharing.
What an interesting coincidence! I’m sorry to hear about your shoulder pain. And yes, persistent pain like that is so confusing and infuriating— it’s a real journey sometimes getting through it.
Thank you, Priya. I really appreciate you being here :)