Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Day 11 - Going Down in a Blaze of Glory

Imagine this. You've worked your whole life to get where you are, and you've made it. Finally, after years of training and tryouts, you've been picked for a major league team. The fans love you, you've won their team a spot in the finals.

The night before the big game you're celebrating, it's the start of your amazing career. And then, out of nowhere, a car swerves into yours. All you see is the headlights, there's no time to react. Your car flips over twice before smashing into a tree.

In the hospital, the doctor tells you he's managed to save your arm, but you'll never play again. "But Doc, the big game is tomorrow!" He looks you straight in the eye. "Son, I can strap up your arm so you can play, but chances are that if you put it under that much pressure you'll lose it entirely."

The choice is yours. Do you go for the glory, knowing that you'll never be able to use that hand again? Or do you go back to your small country town and take a job teaching kids your sport, knowing you'll always be able to play, just not at the same level?

Which one is it?

A few years ago I developed RSI. Each night, after I finish work and drive my son and husband home, I have been sitting down at the computer and typing, trying to realise my goal of 1,000,000 words in a year. The day before yesterday my hand was hurting. Yesterday my hand was swollen and my back hurt. Today I'm having trouble gripping things like pens. Even typing this hurts.

So - do I say "Damn the arm, my grand goal is more important" or do I take the time to heal up, knowing it might mean blowing the big game?

Which one is it?

Word Count - 0

7 comments:

  1. Love this~ tough decision to make.

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  2. If you don't heal you could never write again, or indeed use your arms for many other things, now as a person who loves words and writing I cannot believe I am saying this, but perhaps you need to heal to share your words in the future. It isn't stopping you, it is helping you. That's how I would look at it.

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  3. I'm with Sean. Lateral thinking. Invest in ergonomic keyboard, proper adjustable chair and table, and if need be, dictation software.

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  4. I love it get dictation software, I have hear Dragon is good.

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  5. I think that dictation software may be the way to go. I'm still a little shy about speaking my novel out loud, but I think that you would get used to it in time.

    Also, I've had several days off now and I feel like tomorrow I can do some writing as long as I take regular stretching breaks. May have to downsize my goal a little, but I really do want to be writing every day.

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  6. just be glad you don't want to write 1 million words about Information and knowledge management, for that you should be relieved.

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