[img]541|left|Carter Dewberry||no_popup[/img]Last weekend I burned myself badly enough that a week later my right forearm still is sensitive to the touch. At the time, I barely paused to say “Ouch” before continuing hosting my students’ recital.
After a long day of editing, yesterday I felt my other forearm ache from overuse. This caused me a night of troubled sleep and worried reflection (yet again) over my computer usage.
On a pain scale of 1 to 10, I would objectively rate my burn injury as a 6 and my overuse ache as a 3. Why, then, do I sometimes make a “3” a bigger deal than a “6”?
Pain feeds on fear and resistance. It creates meaning to survive. When I stop what I am doing, look it squarely in the eye, and say “Hello,” I can feel it receding into the light like a bad dream.
Years ago I was taught by a martial arts master that pain exists in the mind. I have since practiced this principle during incidents that would cause others to collapse. I still am standing.
Yet as soon as I feel discomfort in my arms or hands that could affect my playing, I freak out. Literally. I can feel myself stop breathing and lose myself in panic.
As always, recognizing this irony in writing allows me to laugh. And the harder I laugh, the duller the ache.
Ha. Ha. Hah! That’s much better.
Ms. Dewberry, an accomplished cellist, completed her DMA in Chamber Music Performance from UCLA in December 2005. She received her MM in Cello Performance from UCLA in June 2002 and her B.M. in Cello Performance from Western Michigan University in April 1998. She also holds a B.A. in French with a minor in Women's Studies and Philosophy.
Ms. Dewberry, an accomplished cellist, completed her DMA in Chamber Music Performance from UCLA in December 2005. She received her MM in Cello Performance from UCLA in June 2002 and her B.M. in Cello Performance from Western Michigan University in April 1998. She also holds a B.A. in French with a minor in Women's Studies and Philosophy.
Her website is www.carterdewberry.com
She may be contacted at carter@carterdewberry.com
