“It’s Been a Long and Winding Road”

Photo credit:  Nathan Anderson of Unsplash.com

“It’s Been a Long and Winding Road”

In the Beatles song “Let it Be” John Lennon starts out singing about a long and winding road to love, well for me it was a long and winding road to recovery these past four weeks. You may recall that on December 20^th I had a skiing accident that left me with two broken ankles and the time since then has also been like another song by the Grateful Dead “What a Long Strange TRIP it’s Been”. So much for the song metaphors, but they reflect my journey well.

I wrote in a blog shortly after the accident that I was going to have my TRIP skills tested over the following weeks and they surely were. My tenacity made me want to work, but I was so exhausted most of the time that my focus was diminished. I wanted to do my usual TRIP Tip videos but that unfortunately required more work than I was prepared to do.

Over the last four weeks I’ve learned how to do sponge baths since I couldn’t get into a shower or tub. I learned how to sleep on a couch with my feet elevated in the cumbersome walking boots. I didn’t want to take the prescription drugs for pain, so I relied on over the counter solutions that worked remarkably well and helped me sleep. I meditated daily to relax and focus on my healing. This also brought me closer to God, my spirituality, and some changes that I feel will benefit me in the future.

I had to be resilient and imaginative in learning how to change my clothes, shave, and cook the many dishes brought by neighbors and friends…thank goodness for microwaves!

In week three I finally got to see an orthopedic surgeon and found out that I wouldn’t need surgery because the bones had realigned perfectly and were healing well…wow, what a relief!

Eventually, in the fourth week the walking became less painful and easier, so I ventured up stairs to my bedroom for a good night’s sleep on my bed. But, even then the Velcro on the boots stuck to the covers and kept waking me up as I tried in vain to get comfortable. I learned that going downstairs backwards was easier and safer because I could see my feet and hold on to the railing. 

My purpose was to heal and get back to my normal active life, but everything told me to slow down, learn from the experience and gain personal insight to the trials and tribulations of those who suffer with these types of inabilities daily. Slowing down was never in the cards for me as I love to be on the go a lot. But I had to depend on neighbors, friends, and family to help me daily for which I’m ever so grateful.

It has indeed been both a long and winding road and a long, strange trip, but I’m nearing that light at the end of the tunnel each day. Tomorrow I start using ankle braces and the walking boots will hopefully be history. That will open the door to driving and short walks for the mail, etc. 

Yes, if you’re wondering, I’m available for virtual speaking events currently and should be able to add hybrid with travel in a couple of weeks.

I’ve had the opportunity to examine my life, goals, and purposes with extra time on my hands and I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned there in the next blog. For now, I’m grateful for you, my readers with whom I can share my thoughts with and hopefully help along the way as well.

Remember to take a TRIP for a lifetime, not of a lifetime.

Stay tenacious my friends!

Keith……