So we all go through life facing challenges and often think selfishly"Why me?" Sometimes we get an answer, sometimes we do not but the entire time I feel as though this "Why me" mentality is a little too common amongst us, myself included; that is until I busted my knee and got a big reality check.
It was September 27, 2011 and I was at the gym after work as usual almost done with my elliptical when I felt a weird tug in my knee. Being the self diagnosing person that I am, I did not think much of it but I got off the machine and decided to call it a day.
At home I had pain, ignored it, elevated it in bed assuming I just pulled a muscle and took some Advil. I woke up in the morning to a swollen knee which got worse and worse as the day went by until my entire leg was swollen. Finally, I accepted the fact that something was wrong, went to the doctor, got crutches, nothing was broken but I needed an MRI. Finally a week later, which felt like eternity since I was on crutches, we officially knew I had torn my medial meniscus. Just what I needed in my life, another piece of drama to deal with. So I went for a second opinion and when the doctor said "Nora, I've never seen anyone so young tear their meniscus so bad, you really fucked it up" I knew it was serious. Considering my doctor was also worked for the LA Sparks, the LA Kings and the LA Lakers, I knew it was serious. I had two options, live with the pain for the rest of my life or surgery. We decided on the latter but needed 6-8 weeks to get the water out of my leg because they could not operate with it being so swollen. So we set surgery for Nov 18, 2011 and I was given Motrin 3x a day for the swelling to go down.
I worked until 3 days prior to surgery, training the person who was going to take over my position until I got back, and at my last visit to the doctor 3 days prior to surgery he put me on bed rest because the swelling had not gone down as much as it should have. My bosses got upset, it's natural they milk you til you're dry but I had no choice. So I had surgery on the 19th and my recovery was supposed to be until January 24, 2012, but my bosses didn't like that so I left my job.
Now I was still wallowing in self pity when I finally realized that everything does happen for a reason. God did not make me bust my knee just because He was bored, it was to teach me a lesson I still had not learned. Thinking back now I am sure He tried numerous times, I was too stubborn. So with that being said and some complications on the way it was September 2012 and I was still in recovery going to physical therapy 3x a week. My PT's were my new best friends who new everything that was going on in my life, that was the "going to work" portion of my day which was pretty fun; but I finally got to the point where I thought it has to end, enough I need a job.
After 3 months of job searching I finally found a fabulous law firm in downtown LA where I currently work at but I learned so much this past year that it is truly unbelievable.
1. Everything happens for a reason: Whether you want to accept it or not, it does, whether it is to teach you a lesson, which was my case, or to just give you a realization you never had before there is a reason, you will figure it out eventually.
2. Put yourself first: It is great to care about all the people you love and can't live without, but you need to take care of yourself first, then everyone else; because if you get sick or hurt who is going to take care of you? Let's be real, it is times like this where you get the reality check of who your true friends are and cares about you the most; and let me tell you the list will shock you because it won't be who you expect it to be (Friends wise).
3. Treat your body like a temple: Your body is your temple and you only have one body. If you do not take care of it, no one else is going to do it for you. So if you hurt yourself and the doctor says off your leg for 2 weeks, stay off it and don't play Superman/Superwoman, there's a reason the doctor said 2 weeks and not 2 days. A lot of injuries can last much longer if you don't take care of it the first time and you don't want to be a 35 year old with a bad ankle who can't wear heels because you walked on your ankle before you were supposed to because you "felt fine."
4. Don't Be Negative: Never ever ever be negative for two reasons: 1. It could always be worse and
2. There is always someone out there who has it worse than you do. There is always a solution to a problem, you may not like the said solution, but there is one. You need to accept the negative then automatically look at the positive. Being positive keeps you strong, the positive energy around you will be beyond helpful especially for your mental state and you will go nowhere by being negative except to the gutter so get over it and find a solution, if you need help ask for it. Getting encouragement or strength from friends and family is always a positive thing and it will give you the courage to actually do what it is you need to do.
5. Accept the Support of Family & Friends: Family and friends are not only there to celebrate the good days with you, they are there to help you through the bad as well. There is nothing wrong with asking someone for advice on a situation or help with a problem. Your support system is a lot more important than you think and if they did not want to help you they would not be a part of your life. Accept the help and move on, it will make you feel good by finding a solution or just venting to someone and getting their opinion; but it will help the other person as well by making them feel that they were helpful to you. It works both ways so don't be ashamed, use your support system because one day they will need you.
Hope all this was as helpful to you as it has been to me lately. There is always a lot more where this came from but I'm going to save that for another blog.
Always remember: No Regrets!! Only Experiences and Memories!!
Love is Amazing ~~
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