Mae’s Musings: Post-Injury Clarity
In my kitchen, 2021
We’re all probably neck deep into 2021; work, life and everything that has come with it. If that’s the case with you, know you’re definitely not alone. In fact mine came with a bit of drama! (Yes yes I know, it’s me after all. There’s usually something to report, haha).
Anyway, it was a few weeks ago. The weekend when the weather forecasts made me so giddy because we were apparently going to wake up to a crazy snowstorm that promised up to 15 inches of snow over the next few days. The excitement was in the air, colleagues gearing up to drive out to any possible hilly mound they could find in this flat country; neighbours pulling out the sleds and skates, my boys excitedly talking about what accessories they were going to put on their snowmen (face masks might have been mentioned).... So there I was on Saturday in the kitchen standing with Alex, prepping a hot dish for the cosy evening ahead when I turned to do something and my elbow knocked off a heavy glass cup, which proceeded to fall and break on my right foot before I could even blink twice.
I won’t get into the (literal) bloody mess that ensued or the unexpected calm I felt while being tended to as Franklin frantically administered First Aid, or our car (with the farthest thing you can get from snow tires) getting stuck on the way back from the hospital…. But aaanywaaaaaay… I got 5 stitches in my foot, was confined for three weeks to resting and hopping if I absolutely had to move around - which of course I did, until I hit the foot against a door and learnt my lesson!
So now that the stitches are out, my foot can fit in flat shoes and sneakers and I’m cleared to go back to my runs and other workouts, here are the highlights I’m inclined to document, to remind myself and to hopefully help someone else:
Respect your body
It really is the little things. I know it’s cliche how everybody reflects on how much we take good health for granted when we have an injury, a pulled nail, broken toe or unrelenting toothache; but I think there’s a good reason for that. The way your consciousness zooms in on the fact that one tiny body part can cause so much discomfort and require so much adjustment is not something to be ignored when you feel better. It was crazy how getting up from bed for a bathroom break required so much calculation. Now I know the number of steps it takes to move between points in my house. I found a renewed appreciation for my body; how she works to keep me moving, how her various parts work together and how resilient she is. I’ve walked out of that experience more committed to taking care of myself - my mobility, fitness, skin, flexibility, overall health. It’s the least I can do to honour this shell that has carried me so well for over 38 years.
Protect your mind
FOMO is real, but also it’s also fake! So I watched through my window as the neighbours skated on the frozen lake, mums pushed their kids around in sleds and everyone had a great time in our rare winter wonderland, and maaaan the FOMO was real! I felt miserable. But then I thought “hold on! You can’t even skate! Also you hate the cold and wouldn’t willingly stand in the snow for more than 10 minutes at best!” So why was I feeling terrible? At best I would have enjoyed a snowball fight or three with the boys. And isn’t that so characteristic of life as we know it? Scrolling through social media, looking at other people’s lives and feeling like we lack something; meanwhile if we go beyond that layer and think more intently, we’ll realise that that utopia is not even what we want or need!
twitter.com/joynessthebrave
Routine & Rest
While this wasn’t about my body breaking down due to stress or burnout, it was an opportunity - one that reminded me that a routine is a routine and not a life sentence; and breaking it occasionally, by choice or by necessity is something to be embraced and not a cause for more stress. After the first few days of stubbornly acting like all was well, and after I hit the foot again and experienced dizzying pain (literally), I received a scolding from a 9-year old (who I strongly believe was sent to do that), and I was forced to pause and rest. I sank into the period of slow ease and rest; I didn’t feel terrible about not exercising or about eating more junk than I usually would. Because it was a hiatus, a brief break in the routine; and while a foot gash wasn’t what I wanted, I treated the situation less like a risk and more like an opportunity. Self-care is not a fad here. I challenged myself to consistently live and breathe it to get the best out of my every day.
All in all, I’m doing well; getting pumped for my next run once the rain stalls; and feeling great! I have a scar; it doesn’t look very pretty now. But it’ll serve as my reminder for these three lessons when I start to feel stuck in a rut or too comfortable in my routine - My Body, My Mind & My Rest. I hope this resonates with you. You don’t need to hurt your foot like I did. Just borrow my lessons! :-)
Thank you for being you, for being in my community, and for letting me share myself with you. I hope the rest of your week is productive and you have a relaxing weekend ahead!
