Pain is an educator. It acts as an indicator to warn us of something being wrong or off. We ignore pain at our own peril.
Maybe the picture shows the extent of my pain. Possibly it does not. Once you learn the story, you might think differently. It starts with a wall. Not just any wall, a glass wall. In an office space. Not just any office space, one that I am quite familiar with.
The wall shown above normally does not have a smudge like the one in the center of the photo above. It is generally clear and completely clean. That was until last Thursday evening. Then it changed.
As I was navigating my way back to the break area, business cards in hand, I misjudged the distance between me and the door opening. It was after working hours, even after the meetup had concluded. I was finishing some details for my colleagues in India so that they could progress work while I slept.
Since I was preoccupied, I missed walking through the door by some distance. Nearly two feet, by my estimation. The result was the smear. My face planted firmly on the glass plane with a great “WHAPP”. I stood dazed, stunned, and completely disoriented for several seconds.
I quickly checked the surroundings, did a patdown of my face, and gathered my composure. Business cards were delivered. Tears were held back. Work was finished for the day. The next day was all-day learning with Dave Snowden, the second of his masterclasses.
My friend Nigel remarked after I explained what happend the night prior that I really was a miliatary hard***. I smiled, chuckled, and explained that going to urgent care would have made me $200 lighter and no less informed than what I already knew. I broke my nose walking into that glass window.
After a nap on Saturday, I was experiencing a skull-splitting headache. More confirmation of my reality and PAIN.
You see, nothing was going to alter the past. The pain I was experiencing was an indicator of damage already done. I did not ignore it. I suffered through it. For hours and days. In fact, I still have lingering reminders of my faulty door navigation as this post is being crafted with care.
In my case, I did not ignore the pain. I accepted it, made a mental note of how it came about, and have been using it as a teaching moment for me and people that listen to the story. It is a blunt force instrument that now informs my thinking about situational awareness and navigating my surroundings.
I have lived through enough frightening events to recognize pain as an instructor. I recorded a few videos on the topic, which are posted to the YouTube channel.
Likewise, I heeded pain, learned the lesson, and became better for the experience. I would be lying if I wrote that it was “easy”, “quick”, or “relatively benign.” The pain I experienced, emotionally, mentally, and physically, was awful. I would not wish it on anyone. And yet, I survived. I allowed it to inform me, not distort me.
Comparing the two photos, one week apart, my nose is better this week than it was last. The pain is less acute and more chronic. Less pronounced and more background. Yet it is still present. I acknowledge it, and I am writing about it.
As well, I accept my part in causing it. And that IS THE POINT of this post.
The acknowledgement and acceptance of pain. Choice led to my broken nose. I cannot blame the glass. No one was distracting me as I was moving from one room to the next. I was rushing to finish my workday.
When it comes to the work that we do, are we ignoring the pain in the work being done? There is no good or right answer.
A better question is, is the pain we are experiencing an indicator of something being wrong on a larger scale? Could it be foretelling a future, more urgent event that will not be experienced locally at the team level?
Profound questions to consider from a guy who broke his nose while being distracted.