Defying the Odds with a positive Attitude

By: Saleh Abdullah Alkhamyasi

Do you think patience has a taste? This is what I asked myself when I read “The Taste of Patience” by the novelist Mohammed Eid Alaraimi. I was actually taken aback with the intelligently chosen analogy.

The Taste of Patience remains a masterpiece in the contemporary Omani literature. It is an eye opening, thought provoking and above all soul captivating.

It illuminates many empowering lessons on the nature of man and depicts moments of happiness & sorrow, hope and despair, surrender and will power.

The novelist shares his experience in battling the odds of disability for more than two decades.

As a young man Mohammed graduated from USA as an Industrial Engineer. Upon his return he joined PDO. Few months later he got married and you could imagine the magnitude of his dreams and aspirations. However, destiny had something else in stored for him.

After spending the holidays with his family, It was time to go back to Marmul. In fact, It was his last working week before getting transferred to Muscat. He left Sur remembering his mother’s prayer, visualizing his wife’s mesmerizing smile which tempted his soul to stay back.

Half way through, the call of destiny arrived. Two huge camels intercepted him.  He could not avoid them. His car hit one of them forcefully. The animal flew up and landed on the car flattening the roof on his head. The accident resulted in a spinal cord injury. It has disrupted his life extensively and condemned him to a wheelchair.

The journey in search of treatment took him from Ibra hospital, khoula Hospital, to London even the USA.  He sipped the bitterness of patience in an incremental dosage. His treatment subjected him to a painstaking rehabilitation and physiotherapy program.

He became a victim of bleak thoughts. He felt like a man condemned to a life imprisonment, denied the freedom to die. His feeling of despair and frustration deepened. The disability imposed a solitary life on him.

He saw his dreams fade away in a blink of an eye.  So what should he do? Shall he keep weeping like a burning candle?  Or should he gather his strengths and awake the giant within him. Should he rise to the occasion and surmount his bleak reality?  He sailed through his life with a glimmer of hope promising himself a better tomorrow. His will power made him learn how to make new dreams that comprehend to his new reality.

He admits that many people helped him during his tragedy. They exhibited their solidarity, kindness, sacrifice and other human gestures.

For instance, Dr. Harvey the Director of Medical Services at PDO then was supportive to him. He shifted him to a private room. He fixed a TV in it and was instrumental in sending him abroad for treatment. Not only that, but he negotiated his employment contract with the company on his behalf.

Others such as nurses, friends even people whom he did not know came for the rescue.  On the other hand, there are those who deserted him as well.

Mohammed, had to forgo his profession as an industrial engineer and settled for a translator role instead. He was keen that his disability does not overshadow his ability. He had to adapt to the new role. He had to put his heart and soul in search of excellence. He exaggerated his ability to avoid pity feelings for his disability.

From a state of defeat, despair and surrender Mohammed emerged as a shining star. He became a professional writer and translator. Today he is a renowned novelist within the GCC Countries. His name is tied up with patience as an elevating virtue.

He became a voice for “People with Special Needs”. An advocate for their betterment. An educator with a mission of changing the stereotype thinking about the disabled segment in our society. He vividly illustrated that yes life is not a rosy journey? It has its own ups and downs. However It is our attitude which makes a difference. Embracing a positive attitude enabled Mohammed, to endure irresistible bitterness, overcome formidable hurdles and ride fierce waves in his life to discover the rewarding taste that patience.