Appreciating Life’s “Littles”

One of the things I learned from spending three month in hospitals and rehabilitation was a new appreciation for little things. My hard-won “firsts” were and continue to be sources of gratitude. These small triumphs may appear trivial to those who haven’t experienced discouragement over the inability to perform tasks once taken for granted.

Among them are:

• the ability to do my physical and occupational therapy exercises without having to stop and rest every few minutes.
• being confident to take my walker from the kitchen down two shallow steps to the garage.
• standing at my sink to do dishes without fear of losing my balance and falling.
• my first trip to the end of the driveway to get the mail.
• I am finally able to begin writing again, after months of questioning whether it would ever happen. I am now working on another book, pacing myself according to each day’s energy level.

There are still many tasks I can’t do while using a walker, such as changing my bed, vacuuming, mopping, etc. Now, a wonderful home helper comes 4 hours a week to handle the hard stuff.

The journey of a thousand miles really does begin with one step. My latest “milestone” was walking with my helper (and the walker) a few blocks to the top of the hill above me in the cul-de-sac. Chatting with a neighbor and feeling the fresh wind in my face brought another, “Thank You, Lord, for literally restoring my health one step a time.”

We plan to increase the distance some each time we walk. I don’t know how many steps it will take to return to where I was last November. But like the determined small dog in one of my favorite rhymes says that “One foot after another the little dog reached Dover.”

He evidently didn’t let obstacles stand in the way of reaching his goal. He just kept putting one foot down and then the next. Each brought him closer to his destination.

Following this intrepid traveler’s example will not take me to Dover. Yet I rejoice. With the continuing help of our Heavenly Father, I will someday reach my goal.  Thank you all for your love and prayers as I travel a journey I never expected to take, but one that has deepened my gratitude for the “littles” that brighten our lives. 

Blessings,

Colleen