About a month ago, I found out that I was going to be in a leg cast for six weeks. Let me tell you, it has been a long four weeks. Along the way, though, I have learned a few things.
5. Interesting ways to do things:
Showering, getting around, and even doing laundry. Every single thing in my life has changed over the last month. It takes a pretty creative mind to figure out how to do everything you did before, but with one less leg. While it may sound simple, try doing any simple task while hopping on one foot. You'll get a small taste of what having a leg cast is like.
4. Being late:
Just accept it. If you have a cast on your leg, you're going to be late. Even when I attempt to leave thirty minutes earlier than normal, something happens that still causes me to be late. While normally, I detest being late to anything and usually show up fifteen minutes early, I have learned just to accept that I may not get anywhere in the time I want to.
3. How much you take pants for granted:
Yes, I know this one sounds silly, but it is so true. I always thought I rarely wore blue jeans, but now that I can not wear them that is all I want to wear. I have to wear business casual every day for work, and I have realized just how much of a challenge that is when you can no longer wear any type of pants. Dresses have become my absolute best friend.
2. How unfriendly this world is for handicapped people:
While I am only temporarily handicapped, I have been able to see just how hard our world is for those with physical handicaps. There is never enough parking, concrete is never smooth enough for my wheels of my scooter to go across, and elevators are few and far between. We make this life so difficult physically, for those who need ease the most. This short stent has given me a whole new appreciation for those who deal with these struggles every single day.
1. Patience:
Finally, this has been the biggest thing I have taken away from this experience. If you combine all the other things I have learned, they have all brought me to this one point; have patience. In this situation, every aspect of your life requires patience. If you don't have patience through this, you will go crazy. Things may not be easy, take extra time, and require a lot of extra energy; but, have patience and soon enough your time in that silly cast will be over. I'll be sure to let you know if I still feel this way come next week, but for now, I am looking at this cast as a blessing and a trial that I have almost overcome.
