ice skating accident

Blessons (Blessing in a Lesson)

Accidents happen: you can blame others or yourself when something goes wrong, or you can learn from the experience and move on.

Accidents are also opportunities to sit still, contemplate, and just be. They are often signs from above to show us that something is not in alignment.

Blessings In Disguise

I had a very nasty and scary skating accident 3 years ago. I ended up with a concussion and whiplash. I knew, however, it was a sign for me to finally do something.

My accident was a wake-up call – a Blessing in Disguise – or, as a friend of mine calls them, Blessons (Blessing in the Lessons).

Let me share my story and what I learnt from my skating accident – how this accident led me to my purpose.

Going Skating

During the long winter break, I always had fun outings with my children. On Friday, January 3rd, 2013, I set out for a day of skating with my younger two, Catherine and Horatio. The aim was to get some fresh air and have lots of fun. My oldest, Mathew, chose to stay at home.

I am an avid skater. I started on skates when I was tiny and always loved the sport. I went skating with my kids from an early age on, too, and we always had fun together. This time, we chose to go to a new ice rink, one that is just next to the lake in Zurich.

I was a bit tired that day. It was a long drive and an effort to get the kids into the car in the first place. The queue was long, and I nearly went back home. Alas, I thought it would do us all good to have some fresh air, so I persevered.

On The Ice

Finally, we had our skates on and were ready to go on the rink. I enjoyed the view of the lake and thought I would take a picture on one of my next rounds. However, I didn’t end up getting around again.

While my kids were off, I skated gently along. Suddenly someone hit me low from behind. The blow sent me flying.

Pain and White Light

I remember the pain I felt in my head when I hit the ice. I’d fallen backwards, headfirst. Everything went white, and then soothing white light surrounded me.

Eventually, I came to, but I had pure electrical shock pain in my arms and legs. I cried out because it hurt so much. I was feeling sick, and I could not move.

I felt so weak I started to cry. People were gathered around me, trying to get me up on my legs again. I just said “I can’t! I can’t!” I was not able to move. My head hurt, the electrical shocks in my legs and arms subsided slowly, but I just wanted to lie there forever.

Pretty Hard On My Kids

My kids were sitting next to me, crying. Of course, I wanted to soothe them as best as possible, which was not much, as I still could barely move my arms.

Eventually, people came with a trolley and they heaved me onto it and moved me into the ‘nursery’. By then, I could speak again, but slowly – and somehow I was not able to move my lips as I wished, they seemed to be numb. It all felt really weird like I was in a dream where everything was slow and oh so painful.

They took my cap off (yes, I was skating without a helmet!) and there was so much blood. Apparently, I had a gash on the back of my head, but I couldn’t care less at that moment.

My kids told me later that the ice rink was full of blood where I had fallen, and that was the biggest shock for them.

The Ambulance Ride

The ambulance came. They put a brace around my neck and transported me to the hospital. While Catherine was able to sit up front, Horatio was in the back with me, crying.

I was strapped in, and could not move at all. It was important to be immobile, so any neck injury wouldn’t be worsened by the trip. The movement of the ambulance was so painful.

I had no way to soothe my baby, who was only 9 years old. I could only imagine how traumatic it must have been for him to see his mom lying there in the blood on the ice rink, then later in the ambulance, not knowing what was going to happen and whether his mom would survive. I knew I was going to be fine, but of course, a kid’s nightmare can grow big.

At The Hospital

The whole hospital was a whirlwind of action. The good thing was that my vertebrae were ok, and they could undo the neck brace, which really hurt. My head didn’t feel too good, however, and my vision was slightly blurry.

The doctor put a couple of stitches on the back of my scalp, after razoring off a patch of hair (luckily I had short hair at the time).

After some tests, they told me I had a concussion and whiplash. I looked at them and asked, “Now what?” They told me that I could go home.

I felt like I could barely walk. What was I going to do at home?

They said I could take some painkillers and that recovery would take time. I needed to get the stitches taken out in about 9 days.

Well, apparently that was all that conventional medicine had to offer.

Getting back home

My children organised a ride home for us. A lovely neighbour came and collected us at the hospital.

I was unable to lie down flat, so I sort of sat in my bed. The big bruise on the back of my head hurt, so I couldn’t really get comfortable

Horatio suggested that he’d bring me an ice pack so I could lie on it with my bruised area. What a great idea! He probably remembered all the times I got him an ice pack when he was injured. Of course, Horatio needed to sleep next to me. He was too afraid of losing me.

The kids cooked and helped me up and down the stairs. I could only lie around.

Offers of Help

Luckily, friends came around with cooked dinners, cookies, and gave us all kinds of help. One friend asked whether she could do something, and I knew that this was my time to ask for help.

My car was still at the ice rink and needed to be retrieved. So I took a deep breath and asked her whether she’d be able to get my car. Luckily, her husband was around, and the two of them came over, got my car keys, and headed out to fetch my car.

I cried in relief. It felt so good to receive. I had to be really knocked out before I learnt to ask for help. May I tell you, that for a while I thought about going to get my car on my own, just so I would not bother anyone? Yes, it would have been silly, but something normal for me to do.

Let Someone Else Be The Giver

During that time, I heard someone mention that when we are open to receive, we allow someone else to give.

This saying rang so true. I was always the giver, but I never let anyone give to me.

For me, knowing that I allowed someone to feel the gift of giving was awesome and finally changed my way of thinking about giving AND receiving.

Alternative Options

As conventional medicine had nothing more to offer than painkillers, which made me feel even sicker, I opted to reach out to friends to gather more information about holistic healing options. One person suggested Pranic Healing, another EFT. I had never heard of either. I decided to Google them so that I could see what these therapies entailed, and see whether either had a practitioner close by.

Pranic Healing

Of course, the Universe provided and I found a Pranic Healing practitioner close by – she also had time to see me. Wonderful! Even better was the fact that she gave courses. What I learnt on the Internet and what I felt during the treatment made me want to learn more. I started my Pranic Healing courses soon after my first session.

EFT

I also found an EFT (Emotional Freedom Tapping) course being held in Zurich and went there soon after. I started my education in EFT at that time, as well.

Finding My Purpose

Angels and spiritual books surrounded me during that time. I knew so much. Alas, I didn’t feel good enough to do anything with it.

Learning Pranic Healing was a good start for me. I learnt so much about Chakras and Energies and Healing, that when the time was right, I was able to step up to Angelic Healing and let the Angels take over.

EFT was awesome to learn and it has helped me stay calm and release deep fears – and also to release the trauma of my skating accident. I still use it to soothe myself.

Getting On With My Life As A Healer

Without this accident, I would have never made the first step into my energetic business. I would still be sitting pondering what I could do with my life and how I could help others.

The accident also taught me to ask and be open to receive in all areas of my life. It showed me that my kids could be independent enough for me to start pursuing my life, after being a full-time mom for such a long time.

This skating accident was a wake-up call for me.

Gentler Lesson Appreciated

Yes, I could have done without the accident. Yes, I wish the fall would have been a bit gentler, as I still suffer from my whiplash every now and then. Vertigo and dizziness are no fun, even though they teach me to take things slower and be more relaxed. Ultimately, though, I see the huge Blesson in my accident.

Have you ever had a Blesson? (Blessing in a lesson).

Have you learnt to find the good in all situations?

It might be a good idea to look back and see where you started and how you have grown from your experiences.

We can learn so much by accepting the lessons we are given.

I wish you all a most wonderful week.

Warm hugs,

Signature Caroline Palmy

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