I was sitting in the orthopedics waiting room. I had just been told by a doctor that I needed surgery on my right wrist (my dominant hand) and had been sent to this office for a second opinion.

It had been an icy week in February and the orthopedic office has 150 appointments that day. The waiting room was packed with injured adults. I looked out into a sea of arm slings and leg casts and neck braces and crutches.

I sat in silence and only had two words echoing in my head:

Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.

I felt so humbled, as I have felt many times in my life. One minute you are straightening up and taking out the trash, getting ready to go to work. And then two hours later you are here, sitting in a waiting room, in this alternate reality.

I felt so flooded with waves and waves of humility that it almost felt worth the price of admission. Almost.

How have you let yourself become arrogant, again? I asked myself.
It requires so much humility to walk this earth. I reminded myself.

Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.

I went to a psychic healer one time. I was sitting in front of him and he looked me in the eyes and said you used to be arrogant but now you are humble. Do you understand?

Yes, yes I do.. I said to him.
And then there was a long pause as neither one of spoke.

Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.

And then there was the compassion. I sat in the waiting room, looking out into the sea of people with worried looks on their faces and I felt flooded with compassion for this human condition of which we are all a part. We were all in this together and no one is exempt. I reminded myself.

Waves and waves of compassion flooded my body. It was so profound that it was almost worth the price of admission. Almost.

And now I try to remind myself of these feelings every day.

Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.

After waiting for over 90 minutes for my appointment, I finally had my turn with the doctor.

You don’t need surgery he said.
And you will be fine, he said .
You will be back to work in no time.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.
Humility and compassion.

It turns out he was right.

May the force be with all of us and may we stay humble and compassionate. It’s not an easy journey for anyone but it is filled with growth and learning. The earth really is a school. And we are the humble students and sometimes the humble teacher too.

Have a good Sunday.

~Hayley Mermelstein