How do We Handle Adversity is How We Handle Life
Nothing like a broken ankle to throw a wrench into things. Almost four weeks ago, I was helping my son take his car to the shop. We were running late…correction, I was running late, and like usual, I forgot something in the house…this time, my phone. I realized I left it upstairs on my bathroom counter so I made one last trip inside. Then, as I’m hustling around my car to finally leave, I stepped on the lip of the garage floor that lead to the driveway and rolled my ankle. I’ve rolled my ankle plenty of times but this one was different. This had a snap. I knew what that meant. I broke it. Shit. Shit. Shit.
I have two children that have also rolled their ankles, one broke her growth plate in her ankle and my son broke the filth metatarsal. They both describe a snap when they did it so I KNEW it was bad. My son rolled down his window asking if I was okay. I yelled back “No, I’m not okay!” I’m actually surprised he didn’t laught because I’m sure I looked like a first time runway model on five inch stiletto heels.
I tried to limp back into the house and realized the enormity of the situation with each step. Shit. Ow. Shit. Ow. Shit. Ow. I hopped on one foot after a couple of very painful steps.
The bonus here was that my husband had just left for his annual Canadian fishing trips with his buddies so I was parenting solo for the week. Perfect timing on my part! Thank goodness my kids are older and could help out but this was not what I had planned for my husbandless week. I had projects around the house to do, get groceries, get my son’s car fixed, and work on my online program. Frack!
So, while I didn’t need to have a cast, the walking boot was prescribed to be a part of my wardrobe for four weeks. Immediately, I thought I don’t have time for this. I had to travel to one last baseball tournament with my older son in Lubbock, Texas and then directly to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for my youngest’s last tourney the week after. And Steamboat means hiking, biking, and tubing while there. I was determined to not let this stop me so I did everything I could to heal as fast as possible.
I have applied specific essential oils for broken bones and Deep Blue Rub religiously, done localized cryotherapy daily, and two weeks of deep tissue laser therapy from my chiropractor. Did I mention I was determined? I’m not immune to a few tears here and there as I have felt frustrated or have jolt of pain after accidentally banging my foot on something. But I know I needed to stay as positive as possible if I wanted to get back on two feet sooner than later. Every time I went to cryotherapy or the chiropractor, they commented on how much better I’m getting around and I used that as confirmation that each day was progress.
Am I happy that this happened? Hell, no. For so long, I’ve moved through life thinking that if I fear all the things that could happen, that I would somehow manifest it. I used to worry about my kids’ future; who they’ll become, if they’ll not go after their dreams, who they will marry (or will they marry?!). But when I thought about all the dumb things I did as my younger self and where I am now., I know that the worry is for naught. The worry I truly have boils down to is that I hope they figure out their shit way before I did. For many years, I think my angst as a parent was that while I was in control of their daily care, I can’t control their futures. They are going to fail and falter, just like I did. And yes, bad things are going to come their way that no one saw coming.
Just like this dumb broken ankle. But what I can do is show them how I handle adversity. I can’t let them see a pouting, whiny, and self-pitying mom, because I don’t want them to see that as a way to deal with the unexpected. What I want to show them is someone who is determined to get better and stand back up, Literally, stand back up.
On the flip side, great things will come along that we also didn’t see coming. Or maybe it was something we hoped would come, something we were working toward and it finally happened! It could be a sudden job opportunity, a new friendship, a lucrative business deal, or we hit that body fat percentage…finally! We need to celebrate those things for what they are as well and not as if they are too good to be true. We are worthy of those, too!
in this situation. If I act broken, then I will be broken, physically and mentally. This broken ankle can be a way for me to slow down as well as reflect on how I can learn from this. Poor planning and some bad habits don’t serve me very well. I’m often in a hurry because I dilly dally too much. I don’t allow enough time for travel when I need to get to an appointment. And often I’m forgetting things because I’m not living in the moment. These are areas of improvement for me. Nothing like a broken ankle to bring those into sharp focus. So rather than feel like I’m broken, I’m in the process of healing. Rather than see this as horrible timing, it’s perfect timing so I can focus on completing my online program. Rather than see my limitations, I’m grateful that I don’t have a cast and that I have easy access to my ankle for cryo and laser therapy.
I made it to Steamboat with the hopes of hiking my favorite trail and 100% believed it was going to happen. I tested my ankle on a smaller trail with my hiking boots strapped on tight and an ankle brace while my son and his teammates did all the activities at the base of the mountain. It felt pretty good and thought that with a couple more days, I’d be ready for Fish Creek Falls. But the week passed by and no one felt major enthusiasm to go hiking. I sure as hell couldn’t hike by myself—so as the rest of the family chose to float the Yampa again with the team, I had a nice quiet lunch by myself at one of my favorite spots and caught up on emails and some reading.
So was all that hard core recovery for nothing? I admit, I was disappointed that this trip didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to but I knew that there was a chance I wasn’t going to be 100%. But, dammit! I had to try! I know now that I probably wouldn’t have made it to the top…at least within a reasonable time frame. And that I could’ve possibly done more damage to my ligaments as they are still a bit tender.
Deep in my heart, I knew that it was for the best but in the end, I was proud of how far I’ve come. I know physical therapy will be the next step after I have my four-week follow up with the orthopedic doctor so I will give that my all and do all the exercises so that I’m 100% sooner than later. I’m walking around the house without my boot and will only strap it on to go to the gym or see the doctor.
In the likeness of Forrest Gump, Broken is as Broken does. I believe how we handle adversity is how we handle life and I refuse to be or feel broken. Instead, I’ve acknowledged this as an opportunity to be a role model for my kids, to slow down, to get different projects done, and to be grateful for what I have and what I can do. Shit will happen to us but how deal with it is how we will live our life. Broken? Hell no. Healing? Always. Strong? Hell yes.