It's time for a new hobby

Last Tuesday afternoon, I found myself smiling for no reason as I sat in front of my computer at work with no particular reason. Aside from the fact that I had finally gotten into, and used to, my morning workout routine, work was gearing up with a lot of new projects, my allergies from hell had seem to let up for a bit, and I had a soccer game later that evening...my favorite weekly workout, I had no particular reason to feel so good. Sitting here on the couch, I realize how bittersweet that moment was, for later on that night, I found myself lying on a soccer field in excruciating pain with the ankle the size of a softball.

But, let's rewind a bit...before I get into that nonsense, as there were events after events that foreshadowed that two-second misstep. First, my boss told me not to play soccer because I'm always getting injured, second, I changed my shirt because I'm superstitious and didn't want to wear the shirt I wore when I injured my knee in January, and the third and final...I accidentally stepped on a another player's ankle and was given a yellow card. Stepping off the field, I commented on his acting, as he was up and moving seconds later.....

Fast forward to the second half of the game and I found my self stretching my foot too far to stop a ball, and seconds later felt a pull in my ankle as i crumbled to the ground, unable to get up. Blah, blah, blah I got carried off the field, driven home and got in a argument with the one person helping me, out of sheer frustration.

Ok, so because I'm pretty impatient, and have no desire to relive the account. I woke up, still unable to walk, and went off to work fully equipped with crutches, a bandage, a brace, an ankle the size of a baby elephant's, and a huge slice of humble pie.

Recounting the story was less than awesome, as can be expected, but the worst part of the day was yet to come. Shock number two was on it's way...

It started off as a conversation with my boyfriend, which somehow quickly spiraled into a talk of future plans, insecurities, annoyances, frustrations and bottled up emotions, therefore ending my night with more than just my ankle fractured.....


The third shock came the next day, when I was told my softball, baby elephant ankle would require surgery, six months on crutches, lots of lovely, costly rehab and months before I could return to playing sports/working out....the one hobby I have, do regularly, and enjoy.


So now, sons two of the things that made me the happiest, I found my world upside down. However, I also found a sense of peace I had never quite experienced before. All the little things I used to worry about suddenly went out the window.

Rather than how I should wear my hair, what to wear, what to do on a Saturday night, who said what, who did what, if I couldn't do a full thirty-minute cardio session....all that mattered was how I was going to shower, how I was going to get anywhere (it was of course my right ankle that was out of comission), how I was going to sleep, how I was going to make lunch, how I was going to carry anything, how I was going to climb the stairs and how I was going to give up the use of my right leg for 6-8 weeks.

It's the little things that I count now, the little victories that make my day. Whether it's getting up and down the stairs without falling, making it to the pool, getting out of the house once a day, or carrying my sandwich to the living room in a plastic container so I don't have to eat standing up in the kitchen.

Now it's the little things that count, and I'm starting off with counting down the days until I can walk again. Each day, I'm going to document the little things, the little things that make me smile, or make each day a little better, and hopefully at the end of this whole ordeal, I'll have more than a good ankle, but a good attitude and outlook as well!