By Dr. Katie Eastman
Recently, I learned that my blood clot may be with me for life, and the pain that flares when I stand or sit for too long is likely to persist. What does it all mean? Well, to be safe, I must now be mindful of elevation changes because my lungs are no longer functioning as they did when I was 15 and hiked Longs Peak in the Rocky Mountains. And my dream of skiing again is probably not going to happen.
But what else does this blood clot mean in practical ways, and if it could deliver a lesson to me about my future, what would it reveal? Louise Hay taught us that every medical condition carries a message, so what might a blood clot teach me?
It may remind me that ever since my pulmonary embolism, I’ve been different—slower, more attentive, more thoughtful, and more careful. My body and I now feel like a team and protect each other. That is a lesson in solidarity. But there’s more.
I also find myself telling people I love and care for them more easily, and my presentations feel more passionate as I openly express the preciousness of life. I take more risks professionally, stepping into groups and spaces where I never would have dared before. I ask for what I need, and I try to show up more readily for others. That is a lesson of the heart.
So, if my clot does have a message, I believe it’s this: Get over it and get on with it! You have life to live! This means paying attention, adapting to changes, and living ever day better than the last. It’s how I’ve encouraged my clients to leap forward in their lives, and now it’s my turn to walk my own walk.
I sit on stools now when I present, and wear compression stockings as I huff and puff up hills, or occasionally go quiet and wince—because I danced my butt off the night before and my leg hurts. And, I wear brightly colored heels when I am on Zoom calls. My body is different, and as I learn how to accommodate its needs, I have profound appreciation for what it still can do, and how hard it’s working to help me accomplish all the goals that remain.
If my clot could speak, I believe it would be proud that I’m listening.
Takeaways When Physical Loss Happens
1. What truly matters?
2. What can you still do?
3. Are you connecting with others?
4. Are you listening to yourself?
5. Are you grateful?
About Dr. Katie Eastman
Dr. Katie Eastman is a national grief/trauma therapist, speaker, and consultant with ReCreate Coaching and Counseling in Anacortes, Washington. As a licensed psychotherapist, licensed social worker, and life coach specializing in loss and transition, she supports individuals and communities before, during, and after serious loss for the past thirty years. By allowing the pain of loss to serve as an opportunity for positive change she helps people of all ages reaffirm and recreate meaning by revealing the individual and collective skills, gifts, and talents we each bring to the world. An engaging author and storyteller, she is known as an authentic force for good and love. Dr. Eastman was a student of Dr. Kubler-Ross and was deeply affected by her work throughout her career.
Dr. Eastman is the author and co-author of multiple books, including her new book UPLIFTING: Inspiring Stories of Loss, Change and Growth (Balboa Press, 2024) and PERCOLATE - Let Your Best Self Filter Through (Hay House 2014).
Visit: https://www.drkatieeastman.com/ for more information.
Comments