How Much Do You Curl?

I had a aneurism on the edge of my fistula (right arm). A fistula is a vascular access surgically created vein used to remove and return blood during hemodialysis.

Dr Whitting, (vascular surgeon) suggested I have it repaired because of a possible rupture. The procedure was done and one week later, I returned for my post examination. All was well and the nurse instructed me, (because of my …weight training) not to lift more than twenty pounds.
My surgeon upon hearing this turned abruptly.
“Twenty pounds?! Why only twenty?!” Before she could answer, he asked; “Will, how much do you lift?” I responded; “It all depends on the exercise.” “Well how much do you curl?” He asked.
“Dumbbells? Well, usually with sixty pounds more or less.”
“Well, just use about fifty to sixty percent of your normal weight for about two weeks til the vein completely heals.” He then looked at his nurse and asked;
“Why would you tell him twenty pounds? Look at him!” She responded; “Well that’s what we tell everyone who has this surgery.”
He replied;
“But, he is not like everyone.”

This is how we must look at our situation when faced with uncertainty. We get an illness and immediately flock to the Internet or to others who are full of doom and gloom to see what they have to say. Normally, even a cough will suggest you have less than 24 hours to live. This negative information pollutes our thoughts and enables our minds to allow the body to show symptoms/weakness. The best advice I received was from my mentor, Mr. Mitchell. He is in his late seventies and has been suffering from leukemia for over ten years. He said;

“Doctors go by numbers and numbers don’t lie. However, the number even if bad does not represent you. Some people can handle more than others. It all depends on how you feel. How do you feel?”
I replied; “good.”
“Then you are good! Look at me, I’ve had Leukemia for over a decade and the only reason I know I have it is because the doctors tell me.”😊.

If you think it; positivity, you will feel better and receive positive results.
Until you are broken, you don’t know what you are made of. It gives you the ability to build yourself all over again, but stronger.