Hazardous Play

A couple months ago I was out in the backyard with my son, my daughter-in-law, and our grandchildren.  It was a beautiful day and we were throwing the football around.  I was defending my grandson and we both went for the ball.  Hitting a slick spot of grass I fell to the ground landing like a ton of rocks.  Immediately I knew I had hurt my shoulder.  I got up, stretched it out and playing it off, and kept on playing.  Now in my second month, post surgery, I realize that playing with my grandchildren is a health hazard; or is it?  Can playing with your kids or grandkids really be hazardous to your health? 

 

All of you realize this really has nothing to do with my grandkids.  I chose to play football, as I chose to be aggressive.  By ignoring past pain in my shoulder reinforcing the denial of previous injuries I had put myself at greater risk of ever increasing injury.

 

Have you ever chosen to blame circumstances or those around for the problems in your life rather than accepting the inadequacy of your own actions?  The Nile runs through Egypt, but denial can be just as real and as treacherous.  When you choose to ignore life's realities in, you risk the potential of wadding in denial.  And how many drown in the process?  When you choose to ignore, minimize, justify, distort or fail to accept an existing situation or condition there is a very good chance that you are diving in.  

 

In the beginning denial may seem harmless. However, the act tends to multiply itself as it progresses leading to more and more distortion, rationalization, and avoidance.  As with any dynamic, it often quickly overrun it's banks, seeping into the foundation of our lives and overwhelming those within its reach causing havoc, heartache and ruining our lives.

 

What can we do about it?   First, its important to recognize that denial exists for all of us.  A bill comes in and you don't want to pay it, so you set it aside. The phone rings and you don't want to take it, so you ask someone to tell the caller that you're not available.  You're unhappy with your job and you pretend it doesn't matter;  so you eat too much, play the lottery and dream, or drink to numb yourself through the hours, days, months and years.  Or when that back tooth twinges when you eat sweets, but yet you just play it off believing it will actually cure itself....   Well, enough about me!

 

Denial is faced one truth, and day at a time.  Everyone uses it, but it can be seduction cloaked as a trusted friend.  Begin to live life through the full reality of its pains and pleasures.
  

Living in the present offers a life more fully accepted and experienced through both sides of the equation.  If I retreat into denying life's realities, I may also miss the opportunities to fully laugh, love, play football and really feel everything life has to offer. 

 

 

Do I believe playing with my grandchildren could be hazardous to my health?  Not for a second!  I would do it every day if I had the opportunity.  So now I'm in therapy, hating the exercises, and looking forward to my wife and I loading our kayaks and paddling down the river with our grandkids.  And maybe even a little football!

 

Be well,

John

John's Pic 2
John K Kriger
MSM, LCADC, CPS
  
View my profile on LinkedIn

Follow me on Twitter

Like me on Facebook

 
Upcoming Events (Open to the Public)
Jacobstown Baptist Church, Auditorium, 49 Jacobstown Arneytown Rd., Wrightstown, NJ  08562
Community Educational Event (FREE & No Registration Necessary)  
04/16/13 - 7:00-8:30 pm - Technology Dependence (For Adults 18 & Older!)

Gibson House, 535 E. Main Street, Marlton, NJ  08053
Community Educational Event (FREE & No Registration Necessary)  
04/19/13 - 10:00 am-12:00 pm - Technology Dependence (For Adults 18 & Older!)
 
St. Mary of the Lakes, Emmaus Center, 40 Jackson Rd., Medford, NJ
Community Educational Event (FREE & No Registration Necessary)
04/22/13 - 10:00 am-12:00 pm - How to Keep Your Grandchildren Safe (For Adults 18 & Older)

Willingboro Library, 220 Willingboro Parkway, Willingboro, NJ  
Community Educational Event (FREE & No Registration Necessary)
04/24/13 - 6:30-8:00 pm - Technology Dependence, Substance Abuse, Bullying and Suicide
                                           (For Adults 18 & Older!)

Edgewater Park Municipal Building, 400 Delanco Road, Edgewater Park, NJ  08010
Community Educational Event (FREE & No Registration Necessary)
04/25/13 - 6:30-8:00 pm - Adolescent Current Trends (For Adults 18 & Older!)

Medford Lakes Country Club, 70 Oak Drive, Medford Lakes, NJ
Community Educational Event (FREE & No Registration Necessary)
05/09/13 - 4:00-5:30 pm - How to Keep Your Grandchildren Safe (For Adults 18 & Older!)  

First Presbyterian Church, 19 North Maple Ave., Bass River Twp., NJ
Community Educational Event (FREE & No Registration Necessary)
05/10/13 - 1:00-2:30 pm - How to Keep Your Grandchildren Safe  (For Adults 18 & Older!)

Cinnaminson Library, 1619 Riverton Road, Cinnaminson, NJ
Community Educational Event (FREE & No Registration Necessary)
05/14/13 - 1:30-3:30 pm - How to Keep Your Grandchildren Safe (For Adults 18 & Older!)

Willingboro Library, 220 Willingboro Parkway, Willingboro, NJ  
Community Educational Event (FREE & No Registration Necessary)
05/21/13 - 6:30-8:00 pm - Adolescent Current Trends (For Adults 18 & Older!)
 

For questions, or to book your next meeting,  

conference or event, 

call today at (609) 387-5226, or  

email us at [email protected]