[squbrigg]

Although you may or may not realize it, carving is therapeudic!

Some of the recent messages caused me to think back on how carving has effected my own life and recovery and I wanted to share those thoughts with you. (If you aren't interested, there is always the "Back" key)

I grew up whittling and carving, as most of us here have, but when I left home and joined the navy, carving came with me. Carved/built my first ship at sea. When I swallowed the anchor, carving came with me, and all through those years establishing a family, career, and life, I have always found carving there with me. Some times not much time allocated to it, an hour here and there, but even with so many other interests and activities, carving has always been part of my life.

When a black day came along (7 years ago last Friday) everything changed. For weeks I couldn't use my arms and legs, of even see well enough to raise a knife. For months I wasn't able to walk far enough to even get to the shop, let alone carve anything, my brain was so scrambled that I couldn't do anything or even remember how to begin. I'd try reading and read the same page or paragraph over and over and never remember what I had just read. But inside there was something driving me.....I couldn't imagine life without being able to work wood.

A year passed before the doctor gave me the go ahead to try. I went to my shop and sat for three days just looking, trying to figure out how to continue a ship I had been working on! Didn't work. So I began over again.....started a new project, from the keel up, slowly, lots of mistakes, but determined to win back or re-awaken the skills that were missing. My family helped with the problem solving, my books with techniques and methods.....so my memory and concentration difficulties were surmounted. Everything take much longer, but as long as there is no pressure and time limits....I can do it.

When I finally got to a brain recovery rehab center, they told me that the carving....the desire to carve, was a great motivator for me and perfect Occupational Therapy. It makes the brain focus its efforts, exercises co-ordination, movement, concentration, memory, problem solving .....all the things that help the brain recover. They even went out and bought some tools for their OT lab so I could carve.

I feel that carving has saved my life! It was instrumental in my recovery. While it wouldn't take the pain away or increase my strength, it helps destract my mind from the pain, even for a little while, and it keeps the brain focused and working. While I can't do the things I did before: hike, kayak, run, swim, enjoy the woods, I can still carve.....and that's what's important to me. Life goes on, not as before, but it goes on.

Bob

[Colin_Partridge]

Wow inspirational Bob you have come though a lot and are still able to do the magnificent ships that you do. My hat goes off to you my friend, when you think you have problems they are no where near the problems that other people are afflicted with. I take my health for granted maybe I shouldnt I am not sure I would be strong enough to endure something like you went though. Thanks my friend I needed that and koodoes to you for your strength.'
Colin

[tbox61]

Bob,

What an inspirational, eloquent post! You are a great example of what adversity someone can overcome if you put your mind to it and have the drive!

For us that are fortunate not to have gone through what you have, our 'handicap' only lies between our ears sometimes. It is very easy to give up on something without a fight and accept our circumstances.

My hat is off to you, my friend, and in the words of Gen. Chuck Yeager, 'Press On'!

Tim

[Callynne]

Thank you, Bob, for sharing your experiences with us, you are a true inspiration! We all take so much for granted in our lives, you set a wonderful example of how to live, recover and go on when so much of what we take for granted is lost. What a kind, giving man you are to so gently remind us of how lucky we really are and to set such a fine example to follow when adversity strikes! Thank you again! Callynne

[Lightningbolt]

Thanks for having the courage to share such a personal and inspirational story and just the kind of thing that I need to hear from time to time just for the sole purpose of keeping my own life in perspective.

Generally, I have been blessed with good health but I'm humble enough to know that it could be taken from me at any moment of any day. While approaching mid-life during the early 90's I fell and broke a wrist while trying to keep up with a bunch of 14-15 year-old roller skaters which must have been in the 40 mph range. That injury led to surgery and for over a year I couldn't use my hands. Although not as serious as your situation, this accident really opened my eyes and showed me just how much that that the direct use of my hands are connected to my overall happiness.

At the time I was carving a 14 foot totem pole for the wilderness camp that I am employed and that log had to sit on the porch there for over a year before my wrist could handle a wood maul again. Things like this really put our lives in perspective.

The next time any of us find a reason to complain about anything, just remember that someone else probably has a worse situation. Here's a few things that usually bring me back to earth when I find myself complaining a lot:

1. The next time that you wake up feeling bad, depressed, or in pain just think about how fortunate that you are just to wake up. Or if you would rather wake up on Mars then you'd be breathing amonia instead of oxygen.

2. If you make only $5,000./yr carving, then you make more money than over 95% of the people on earth.

3. The next time that your wife decides where you're gonna go on the weekend, then just be glad that you're "able" to go. :-)


...and the list can go on and on, so thanks for helping to put my life back into perspective again Bob. You have inspiring courage.

[Mryooper]

That is a very nice story Bob! I can tell the difference carving has made for me. I become more relaxed and not as tense. I can spent hours at carving and not notive how much time has gone by. I imagine with you bob, you are on the ship you are carving mid sea and watching the waves going over the bow.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Thanks Bob, its that kind of guts and dedication that built this great continent....sometimes wonder if there is much of it left in people, then I read something like this...again..thanks Bob

[Ron D]

thanks bob

my story isnt near as bad as what you went through but i drive tractor trailer in both canada and the u.s and on my last trip to the us i was on my way home and in rush hour traffic it was stop and go traffic and what i didnt no was there was another truck behind me that wasnt going to stop hence hitting the back end of my trailer at about 40 mph did a royal job on my back .while going to physo to try to straighten out my back i found out that my heart beat was going alot faster than it is suppose to i guess its suppose to be around 85bpm for my age and mines going between 120-140bpm and the results for 2 of the 3 tests came back alrite but i havent got results for my cardo gram back the doctor told me not to worry about it .......but how do you not.he asked me if i had anything that i could do to take my mind off it and when i told him i carved he told me that was about the most relaxing thing i could do i dont no if he was just filling me full of s**t but i no one thing when im carving it does take my mind of it and i feel alot more relaxed when im doing it. i hope this isnt bothering anyone about this post just wanted to vent thanks ron

[wade clark]

Ron,
It sounds like the nickname, "Speedie" would fit! Or maybe that was the guy that hit you. Hope you're ok!
You and the doctor are right, it's great therapy! I lose track of time and everything else when I carve!
Wade

[Ron D]

yea wade that would be a good name for him i just wish he would have been a little speeder hitting his brakes.