Take 2, Leopard Shoes

Rest is self-care

I stepped off the curb. All of a sudden I was on my back in the parking lot next to my car, my left knee was bleeding, and my right ankle was in extreme pain. I jumped up right away. Did anyone see me just fall in front of my home? I limped back into my condominium and immediately grabbed an icepack out of my freezer. My ankle was swelling fast. I wrapped my ankle in ice and started whimpering. It hurt, bad! I knew what injuries were like and what to do to heal. RICE = Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. After 15 minutes of ice, I limped upstairs to get my ace bandage wrap.

The next day I saw the bruise starting. It was all around my ankle and the top of my foot. I went to my chiropractor who did a couple of tests and told me I had strained my ligaments. Bottom line, I had a sprained ankle. I had never sprained my ankle before. When she told me it could take up to three months to heal, I almost started crying. I had health goals! I had my Orangetheory classes four days a week, not to mention high heels to wear to finish off the cuteness of my outfits. Three months of healing? No way. I would not have it!

I had a decision to make. Was I going to be frustrated with my body and push it before it was healed and probably reinjure my ankle? Or option 2: rest my ankle, ice, wear an ace bandage, and do rehabilitation exercises while still continuing to have joy. After all, my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Why is it natural for me to encourage others to rest and heal? Why is it unnatural for me to give myself, my body, grace, and allow it to heal? When I limped back into my condominium I felt old, weak, and out of shape. I was frustrated and disappointed that my health goals were derailed. The injury gave me all sorts of feels that were lies.

It was emotionally difficult the first few days, until I resolved to take option 2 and I tell myself the truth. I am not old. I am not weak. I am not out of shape. I settled in, chose joy, and reframed my mindset to self-care. I was able to take walks within a week. Within three weeks, I was able to do a bit of slow jogging. In five weeks, I was able to go back to Orangetheory twice a week. In six weeks, I was back to my regular routine of four days a week working out. It turns out; resting resulted in a faster and safer recovery than if I had forced the issue.

I’m still wearing my ace bandage and I treated myself to a new pair of cute leopard print sneakers to wear while taking it easy. My heels are standing still in my closet and my low heel booties are getting back in the swing of things, but I’m thankful I chose to take 2...because leopard shoes, right?

Reflection

1. Have you experienced feeling weak or defeated when pursuing health care goals? If so, share your experience.

2. What do you do when your health goals are derailed and you are disappointed? Be honest.

3. Share the outcome when you chose to rest in a season of a health or push through injury or illness. What did you learn from it?

Goals

When you read the scripture about your body being a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT), can you identify some ways you can honor God in your own body?

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT)