When you're diagnosed with cancer you don't think much about the scars. Staying alive is a much higher priority. However, for most us, the experience leaves physical or emotional scars.
I once won an "ugliest scar" dispute with a macho tattooed biker but that's another story.
My biggest, baddest scar goes from one side of my hip to the other with a nice loop around my belly button. For the first few years, it felt tight and itchy and I was very aware of it. As time went by, I noticed it less but the tightness and itching never totally went away.
For quite a while I ignored it. After all, it's a small price to pay for being alive. Recently, I couldn't stand it anymore and decided to see a doctor about it.
I also mentioned the scar to my acupuncturist. As soon as she saw it she suggested a treatment that would help.
"Acupuncture for scars??" I scoffed. She described the treatment to me, which involved inserting 50 - 60 small needles all of the way around the scar, and leaving them in for 15-20 minutes. My first reaction was "EEWWWW!" Then I thought about it, and since I trust
Denise Douglas, healer extraordinaire, I agreed to give it a try.
There I am lying on the table, trying to pretend we're just chatting. The next thing you know she's done with the needles. I'm laying there like a human pin cushion. On the side of my stomach where the muscles are most compromised the needles were vibrating. But not on the other side.
Once I relaxed the most amazing thing began to happen. Starting on my right, the least damaged side of my scar, I started to feel a tingling sensation, and my muscles started to loosen up. The tingling and loosening continued, moving slowly from right to left, until all of the tightness left my abdomen.
It was like this incredible release. I was ecstatic. I had no idea how much the lingering affects of that scar bothered me until it was gone. For days I went around rubbing my stomach marveling at how wonderful it felt.
I thought about the impact that scar had on me over the years. When I was single, it made me hesitant to become involved. It changed the way I dressed and the way I felt when I looked at myself. I felt like I had to cover it up or explain it.
It was only when I refused to tolerate it that the discomfort went away.
This is a great life lesson. We all tend to live with things that limit us. They're comfortable. Habits. We tolerate them because it never occurs to us that we can chose to make them better. We isolate those parts of ourselves that may not be perfect, or pleasing to others. Its easier that way.
What habits or scars do you have that you might be better off without? What things have you grown comfortable with and learned to accept? Consider where you might carefully place a few needles around them. The change could be amazing!
