Tracy's Wellness Journey: Life is Fragile

There are no certainties when it comes to life. We all face adverse events, illness, and disaster at some point. Even death.

Oct. 6, 2021 was a normal day at the office, but I was especially excited about that afternoon because my son asked me to take my granddaughter to her horseback riding lesson. Of course, I said, “Yes.”

As I prepared to leave the house, I recall specifically thinking about the shoes I should wear. I went with close-toed, in case I encountered uneven terrain near the stables. Little did I know, even the safest shoes wouldn’t prevent a fall that would send me to the hospital for the next five days. Surgery was required to fix the trimalleolar fracture on my left ankle due to a slip in the parking lot.

A trimalleolar fracture is a serious injury (all three ankle bones were broken) that dramatically reduces a person’s mobility and quality of life while healing. My family, friends, team members, clients and neighbors immediately jumped in to help with the daily chores, meals, and personal care. To receive this outpouring of love and compassion was a humbling experience and left me with a heightened sense of awareness and empathy for people in need. Especially the elderly.

The thought of seven to 12 weeks non-weight bearing, hopping around the house on one foot with a walker was terrifying. A friend in the home health care business told me to insist on a wheelchair. This process of healing proved to be insightful, interesting, and nothing short of emotional. All the daily tasks that a person does for themselves like showering, cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry, making the bed, grocery shopping, and driving weren’t possible by myself.  

As an independent woman, it was hard to ask for help, but I learned quickly that asking and allowing others to use their talents, abilities, and gifts to support me was a mutual blessing.  Whether it was grocery shopping, doing laundry, cooking, or cleaning, there was magic in the ASK. I was able to share stories, shopping tips, recipes, insights on things like marriage, parenting adult children and entrepreneurship while simultaneously learning from their life experiences.  

One friend and I together were able to help and inspire her daughter, who had recently graduated from college, secure a full-time job. It was all about asking the right questions and searching for the right opportunity that matched her vision and filled her with excitement. That most likely was a conversation that wouldn’t have taken place had I not been glued to my chair.

The point is, there are blessings and magic moments in every situation, if you look for them. Life is fragile. Ask for help. Find the blessings and celebrate the magic moments. 

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