Blog Post 10: A missed step, a tennis racquet and a broken foot…

So this happened… 

On Thursday morning, as we were rushing out the door to drop off the kids at daycare, I missed a step on our stairs and landed/slid on the side of a tennis racquet that my son had been playing with and left lying on the floor. My foot rolled completely inwards and I heard a crack. 

I immediately knew I had broken it 🤦🏻‍♀️

I can’t walk on it. I’m not allowed to put any weight on it whatsoever.

I’m in a cast and crutches. 

It’s hard enough to get myself a glass of water or go to the bathroom, let alone look after my almost 2 year old son (whose a runner) and 4 year old daughter!

It is also my right foot so I can’t drive.

Whilst I can’t lie, I was VERY annoyed, frustrated and helpless on the day that it happened, I’ve been trying to see the positives about it.

There’s nothing I can do about it. I have a broken foot. That’s a fact. 

It’s what I make it mean, and what I think about it that’s going to determine how I feel about it and how I show up in the world.

Having a broken foot is beyond my control now but I have a choice.

I can choose to be annoyed, frustrated and mad about it, and make having a broken foot mean that I can’t do anything. 

I can choose to continue complaining about it, wallow in my own self-pity, watch Netflix instead of work and reinforce my thought that I can’t do anything (by not doing anything)!

OR

I can choose to think about the fact that I have a broken foot in a way that serves me, that allows me to move forward in my life.

As I was thinking this through, an amazing question popped into my head.

How did this happen FOR me? 

My brain immediately offered up many thoughts.

First, I’ve always used exercise as a way to calm my mind and help with anxiety. 

For the next few weeks I can’t physically do any exercise BUT I’ve always wanted to learn how to meditate. 

However, with the busy-ness of our lives and limited time I have in a day I’ve always prioritised exercise over meditation.

So now I’m going to use this time to discover meditation.

I’ve also always wanted to try out some food delivery services that have ready-made meals, but I’ve never gotten around to researching, organising and trying them.

I could not think of a more perfect time to start.

Just reflecting on how I can think differently about my broken foot has really helped me get out of a negative headspace, and think thoughts and take actions that serve me, rather than indulging in feelings like frustration and helplessness.

My foot is broken but my mind isn’t!

I hope this helps anyone that might be in a negative headspace cultivate thoughts that can better serve you in moving forward.

And if anyone knows of some good ready-made meal delivery services or meditation apps that I should try, let me know!

Love Loren x