When life gives you lemons....

Posted on August 09, 2022 by Lois Lavrisa , One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

Recently, while on vacation hiking in Falls Creek Falls,TN (I get the irony of the double word) I caught a ledge and twisted my left foot entirely sideways into a ditch.

Thinking it was just a sprain, I continued to “walk it off” for two weeks. Climbing stairs and walking a whole lot.

Swollen three times its size with shades of red, purple, black and blue. When I had time, I iced it and kept it up. Thinking that surely if it were broken, I wouldn’t be able to walk on it (even though it was painful).

Before returning from our vacation on a Friday, I had scheduled an appointment to see our orthopedist the following Monday just to “check out my foot.”

What did the orthopedist find after an MRI and several X-rays? Fractured fifth metatarsal, ligaments and cartilage damaged, as well as a fractured ankle.

• “They’re funny things, Accidents. You never have them till you’re having them.”- Eeyore

I guess it was more than a sprain.

Less than 14 hours after seeing the orthopedist, I had surgery.

Now I am the proud owner of two screws to fix the fifth metatarsal, as well as two – three inch incisions and 24 stitches. I have 12 – 14 weeks of healing. Including the first 6-8 weeks of non-weight bearing.

Although this seems obvious now, walking it off might have done more damage than good.

What is hardest for me is not being able to do much of anything.

I’m super independent, incredibly active and very type A.

Now? I am heavily relying on my ever-patient (still working full time) husband to do the simplest things for me.

Like getting me a cup of coffee, and don’t get me started on the logistics of using the restroom and taking my daily shower. I’ve had to swallow my pride (and dignity) a million times already, and it is only week three post-surgery.

What have I learned?

• First there are helpers out there. There are incredible humans out there who are skilled to fix things, like broken bones, and I am forever grateful for that (and of course I’m grateful for my husband, family & friends..)

• “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”- Fred Rogers

• Second, feel, express and then move the f*#k on. Trust me, I wanted to wallow in self-pity (I’ve had two meltdowns in the past few weeks) but it only gets me spiraling into a hole that I should not be in. The best thing to do is cry if I need to, express and feel the feelings then pull myself up and out and move the f*#k on.

• Third, love will come pouring into your life. When people found out about my surgery- a knee scooter, shower chair, bathroom rails… and other devices were dropped off at our front door to help me navigate the next several weeks, one-legged.

Three, four and sometime five times a week… meals have been dropped off and delivered. Care packages arrived. Cards and texts came in.

• Love. Love. Love.

And this “forced mandated downtime” recovery has allowed me so much focused time creating, fine tuning, editing…. my “Coaching Business Kickstart” program (there are currently nine beta students in it right now.)

• “This too shall pass..”

My situation is only temporary (when I had the meltdowns it’s because I had lost track of that fact) Here’s a quote I’d like to share with you, because it had resonated with me…

• “In order to be free, we must how learn to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today?”– Mary Manin Morrissey

Sending love, sending joy-

Lois