It takes time to heal. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. We all seem to know this, but we tend to forget about the healing process when we have to deal with it personally. That’s natural, I guess, but it doesn’t make it easy.

Physically. I smashed my thumb several months ago. It wasn’t a major ordeal, but it hurt, and I have an ongoing reminder of the incident with a bruise under a cracked thumbnail. Each week, the discoloration and the cracked nail move up a bit, and they are about to the end of my thumb now. This very minor injury has been a visual reminder for me of the healing process and how slow it can be. I also have a nagging shoulder injury that doesn’t seem to be getting better. I believe the human body has an incredible way of healing itself, and we should avoid surgeries as much as possible. But, sometimes, surgery is the best solution; it’s just not something any of us look forward to. The surgery itself can be painful, but the lengthy healing process is the real challenge. And, despite the best efforts of incredible surgeons, the affected body part never seems to be quite the same.

Mentally. Our biggest challenges are often with our own brains. Our souls can forgive, but our brains don’t seem to forget. We hold on to grudges. We gravitate to anger. We seek revenge. Of course, relationships of any kind are not always a walk in the park. Family members. Friends. Co-workers. Even people we barely know or have never personally met. We form opinions about them based on something they said or did, and we are not always as open as we should be about changing those views. This is my greatest personal struggle, and it is one I am continually working on. Time helps in this process, too, but the healing can take decades, especially for decidedly stubborn folks like me.

Emotionally. I attended a funeral visitation Sunday for my friend, Pat. He was a wonderful guy with a wonderful family who I wish I would have spent more time with, as he always made me smile. I am convinced he made everyone around him better, including me. He was one of the good guys, and I have been fortunate to have him as a friend. It hurts me to know I won’t be able to see him, but it pains me even more to see his family grieving, as I know how much they loved him and how they wish they could continue to have him in their lives. My father died 22 years ago. I miss him dearly, and I think about him every day. This type of healing, without a doubt, is the most difficult challenge we face — and, unfortunately, we all have to face it.

The good news in all this is that healing eventually happens. Slowly, yes, but surely. Unfortunately, we have to smash a thumb every once in a while to be reminded of it.

Have a meaningful Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com 

FEATURE STORY
A lot of people with a lot of problems

On June 18, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, backed by the families of several murder victims, announced the launch of the first Iowa Cold Case Unit (ICCU).

“We know that, with a cold case, a family is left in the dark, and a murderer is left walking free,” Bird said.

Phrases like “hope cannot be forgotten, “never stop looking,” and “ensure that no murderer walks free” were bantered. Steve Ponsetto, a retired Division of Criminal Investigation agent, was named leader for the unit that comes from Linn County law enforcement. ...

The race is on
Residents share their passion for reaching the winner’s circle.

Jackson Gray, 17, started racing when he was just 4 years old and his dad put him in a go kart in Newton.

“We had some early success that got me hooked,” he says. “I've always had a love for driving and going fast. The go kart I was racing didn't have a roll cage on it, and my dad ended up pulling me from racing because of safety concerns and how young I was. Ever since then, I have had aspirations of getting back behind the wheel, but it took many years for them to all come into action.”

Gray’s dad is friends with a well-known sprint car driver at Knoxville Raceway, Matt Moro, so, as soon as he was old enough to go in the pit with him at Knoxville Raceway, he did. ...

Happy Birthday to Barry Monaghan and Tyler Nash!

These celebrities were born on this date: Demi Moore, Leonardo DiCaprio, Calista Flockhart, Stanley Tucci, Fuzzy Zoeller, Christa B. Allen, Jon Batiste, Mark Sanchez, Tyler Christopher, Ashley Rose, Carson Kressley, Frankie Shaw, Jacob Whitesides

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to Friday's riddle: What did the Mayflower sailors play when they were bored? Cards – because they always have a deck! - Gail Tomlinson

Today's riddle: What did the retiree call the ranch he bought?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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