When I looked down at my ankle after stepping into that dreaded hole, and watched as it instantaneously swelled into the size of a tennis ball, I knew this wasn’t something I could just walk off.

Dealing with this sprained ankle has been much more difficult to navigate than I thought it would be. Not being able to walk or get around places is terribly isolating and massively inconvenient. After the first day with this thing, I quickly realized that ‘walking it off’ is how I deal with many (challenging and non-challenging) situations in my life. Walking helps me think and clear my head. I always feel great after a good walk.

But with this injury, I literally couldn’t walk for about one week. Even now, two and a half weeks later, the injured area is still swollen and bruised. The other day the doctor looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘This is a very serious injury.’  I immediately looked around his office for a sign with his name: Dr. Obvious.

Undoubtedly, situations like these usually separate the pack when it comes to friendships. Quite frankly, I don’t expect people to help that much because let’s face it, people have lives outside of my sprained ankle. But I have definitely had a couple of major let downs.

Be that as it may, it got me thinking about all of good people I have in my life and the wonderful things I have come to appreciate so much more as a result of this situation:

• Flat, even roads
• Sectional sofas (put my foot up comfortably)
• Buildings with one floor
• Elevators and escalators

And some other things I have come to appreciate on a level I never knew existed:

• My mom and sisters
• Internet access
• Food and grocery deliveries
• Good friends
• The kindness of strangers
• Cars

Like I said, this sprained ankle has been is terribly isolating and massively inconvenient. However, it has separated the pack, helped me refocus on what is important, and literally learn to slow down. Blessings come in all sorts of packages. Even bruised and swollen ones.

The photo below is one I like to call ‘Memories…’