We wake up every morning and grump about having to get up, having to go to work or school, having to run errands and pay bills and having to do things that everyone does. But maybe getting out of bed isn’t so bad, maybe it’s not so bad driving to work or school, maybe it’s not so bad having to walk around running errands, and maybe it’s not so bad to be able to do all of these things without thinking about them. Maybe we take too many things for granted. I know for myself, I didn’t realize how much I took for granted until I was temporarily paralyzed from the swelling of spinal cord injury. I made an unexpected but full recovery. During the five months I was in a wheelchair I learned just how much we take for granted. Here are the things we need to stop taking for granted.
Walking
We learn how to walk starting at twelve months old. We don’t think about just how hard it may be. We don’t realize how hard it is to get around without it. We just don’t realize how much walking can mean to someone.
Running
Running may not always be fun. Actually, a good portion of the population think it’s torture, but for those who are struggling just walking they dream of being strong enough or coordinated enough to run.
Exercising
Being healthy is so great! Being able to go to the gym, do a workout video, do some yoga or ramp up the cardio is a privilege. Not everyone can do these things and when we are capable we might just forget how great it would feel to be able to finally exercise after a life altering injury.
Warmth of the sun
After winter, we all love to feel the spring sun on our skin, but what if you can’t feel that? The warmth of the sun is so relaxing and revitalizing but we don’t realize how great the warmth feels until we go months without feeling it.
Carpet on the bottom of your feet
You first swing your groggy little legs out of bed when your alarm goes off and plant your feet on the carpet. Do you realize the texture on the bottom of your freshly woken skin? Feeling the carpet on your feet first thing in the morning almost made me cry the first time I got to feel it again. It’s the little things.
Grass in between your toes
When you think of walking barefoot while outside do you think about the bugs and dirt on the bottom of your feet, or do you think about how great it feels to have the grass tickle in between your toes? This may seem too simple to matter, but just think about how alive it makes you feel to actually feel the earth beneath you.
Putting on skinny jeans
This is such a struggle sometimes! You hop up and down, do little side lunges and squats, and maybe lay on your bed to finally get them buttoned. Whew! What a chore! But what about that person who can’t even move or feel their legs and dreams of being able to go through the sweat-jerking morning exercise of wearing skinny jeans? Again, it seems trivial, but I missed being able to do this ridiculous chore.
Sore muscles
Sore muscles are my new favorite thing. I had to learn to walk all over again and I was never so happy when I finally felt my legs and felt the soreness of getting back on my feet. It was a pain so great I wanted it to stay forever.
Dancing
Whether you like to dance in your underwear while you are home alone or participate in disciplined dance classes, you all know how great it feels just to express yourself and let lose. I am the dancing in my underwear kind of girl and I never missed anything more in my life. Sitting (because that’s all I could do) and dancing with my arms just wasn’t the same! Dancing is purely a privilege.
Sports
Whether you watch or play sports, walking and being mobile makes this enjoyable. Being able to walk onto the field/court or being able to walk from the car to the stadium are both things mean the world to some people. I would have done anything to put that cheer leading uniform on and run onto the court just to do a cheer, or a jump, or anything really. I dreamed of everything I could no longer do.
Driving
When your legs don’t work, driving is out of the question. Driving doesn’t seem that crucial but when you are trying to figure out how to get to therapy, or to the grocery store, or to go home, it means so much to be able to transport yourself without being a burden on everyone else.
Stubbing your toe
Ouch! Okay, yes this seems like a stretch, but when you can’t feel anything for almost six months, any feeling is a good one, including a stubbed toe.
Standing
Who cares right? Wrong. We don’t think about how many people wish they could just stand up for one whole minute. Standing seems automatic, but trust me, it definitely is not.
Using the restroom
From infants, we enjoy being able to go to the bathroom when we please. I had no idea when I had to use the restroom. Now this doesn’t seem like a big deal, but just think back to that time when you thought you were going to pee your pants and finally got use the restroom. It probably felt like the best pee of your life, well I missed that!
Showering
After a long day all we want to do is take a hot shower or bath to relax. Not everyone can stand in the shower, not everyone can feel the difference between hot and cold, and not everyone is able to enjoy this glorious "me time” event. This might be what I took for granted the most.
