April 11th:
Over the past 8
months, I can name on one hand the places I have been outside of the 4 walls of
my home, or the hospital (home away from home). A few restaurants, my parents,
the grocery store, a park, and the doctor’s office, are the only places I have been.
Prior to the accident, I was a busy body, going anywhere I
could go.
The car rides were therapeutic, now I find them more triggering,
than anything. There was nothing like blasting my music riding down the open
road singing your heart out. After this weekend, I realize it may not be my go-to,
for releasing stress, for quite a while.
Now I can go places, yes, but public places usually are the
only safe place to travel. Weird right, with Covid and everything, public
places are the last place you want to be. The convenience though is so much better
than even my own home.
Everything in a public place, 95% of the time, is usually handicap
accessible. So, no stairs, and if so, there is an elevator. The tight spaces I
squeeze into here at home just to use the restroom; is ridiculous to say the
least, where public places I just can wheel myself right up to the toilet.
When I first went to my parents’ house (an apartment made to
be pretty handicap accessible, without even being handicap accessible) even
then I run into issue. We make do with what we have. The closest access to the
complex is a whole building away. So, we pull up to the curb as close as I can
and pivot my way around, making it easier to just sit in the wheelchair on the curb.
The hardest part honestly, the rest is just shower chairs and angling my walker
just right to get through some of the tighter walkways.
Pretty simple and allows me to shower without having to worry
about how I’m going to make it work in the small stand-up shower, that currently
resides in my master bath (yes, were trying to remodel).
Trying to fight stairs and narrow pathways at any house
other than mine, gives me the worse anxiety (what if I can’t make it to the bathroom).
To my mother in-laws house There is stair at every entrance
(the basement, but still stair to get to the main living area). I have
successful done this once, just before I started the blog. Was it easy and safe?
No, probably not, maybe if I had thought to bring my walker,
but the narrow bathroom was barely able to handle me and the stool I used as a
walker. The stair more safe, little embarrassing, scooting around on my butt to
make it in the house, definitely uncomfortable, still effective.
So, I felt like it was time, to ease some of that anxiety
off going to other peoples’ homes. If I need to go to the restroom, I now have
the strength and tools to move past just about any obstacle. Worst case scenario
I’ll just have to scoot on my butt again.
A friend of mines, mom, had been following my blog, and heard
about my accident months before.
My story intrigued her, and according to her, “is very
moving and inspiring.”, she wanted to sit down and have lunch to discuss my
views and career further.
Honestly, wasn’t sure if I was walking (rolling is more like
it) into a friendly-lunch interview kind of situation, or an interrogation.
Either way, I planned to hear her out, and see what she had to say (even criticism
is a handy tool to have).
Listening to what she had to say on my blog was, comforting
and encouraging. It helped validate my reasoning for doing it, to help and
change the lives of others. I have always wanted to help people, somehow,
someway, and it has been the greatest joy I have found, and even through
blogging, I am impacting others.
I must say It was a beautiful lunch with a salad, chicken tenders, potato wedges, fruit, and potato salad; complimented with a glass of iced sweet tea. Very delicious food, with a delightful conversation. We talked well over an hour and a half, and it went smooth. Even getting into the house, wasn’t bad.
After lunch I joined my friend and daughter down at the pool
house just towards the back of their home. I did learn gravel and wheelchairs
are not friends, but we made it. The property was absolutely beautiful. From the
patio of the pool house, you could see this gorgeous pond.
Looking over the body of water and all the nature that surrounded
me, my friend and I carried on a conversation for hours. It was calming,
peaceful, therapeutic. I could honestly sit there for hours, and probably feel
more inspired, than I ever could sitting at home.
I cannot thank the Shaffer’s for welcoming me into their
home for lunch, and for their love and support. It may not seem that it was more than lunch; but for me it was nothing shy of a small accomplishment.
It helped remind me how strong my words and actions, truly
are. It helped show me, what I am doing truly is benefiting, others.
No, not just some small accomplishment, it’s the start of
success, and reassurance that God truly has a reason behind all he does, and I
couldn’t be more thankful, for him allowing this to be my purpose.
There is so much more coming! I can’t wait to share it all
with you.
Challenge Tracker:
1) Cleaned
the living room
2) Dishes
while standing
3) Yard work
(cleaning out flower beds)
4) Started a
Blog
5) Used
Crutches
6) Laundry
7) Cooking
8) Grocery
shopping/ in stores
9) First
awkward moment in public (handled like a champ)
10)
Spent the afternoons at a house other than my own.
11) Met
my first Blog fan.
NO LIMB-ITS CHALLENGE:
Find at least one thing, just one. (Can be more,
but not less) that you are either struggling with or learning something new.
Try it and, make it happen this month!
No excuses, No LIMB-ITS!
Then share! You will be amazed how Contagious,
your own strength and motivation, truly is!
Build yourself, improve yourself, Believe in
yourself!
Because at the end of the day, our happiness is
our own responsibility!
(Limb Loss Awareness Month-Challenge)
Comments
Post a Comment