Setback or opportunity?
When is a setback an opportunity? When we decide to make it one.
This week I suffered a minor personal, physical setback. While I was working out on Monday morning I tore the ACL (one of 4 ligaments) in my left knee. I may have also damaged the MCL & meniscus – we are waiting for MRI to know the full extent. I’m now on crutches.
On one hand this is a big disappointment. It will slow down my training and I will probably need surgery. It may take 6 months or more until I am fully rehabbed.
On the other hand, I am gaining new insights from this experience that have stimulated exciting new sewing and quilting related ideas. I have a whole new perspective. Hopefully, these are “worthy” project ideas that I will be able to share with you this year. AND…since my wings have been clipped so to speak, I have more time each day to develop them.
In the end, I know my destination and I have confidence that I will make it eventually. I am not in a competition. Each day IÂ remind myself that I need to savor each step of the journey and explore the insights and richness found in the opportunities as they come.
Time is the most valuable resource we have. How we spend it matters. Once it is gone, we can never get it back. Not for any price.
How about you? Do you have a setback that you can turn into an opportunity? Tell me if you’d like to share. I’d love to hear about it.
Tags: opportunity to grow, patience, personal development, setback
Thanks so much everybody! Your kind words, encouragement, thoughts and prayers mean so much more than you know.
Hugs & smiles to all!
Tracy
Oh Tracy, so sorry to hear you injured your knee, but you have such a positive attitude through it. I have admired so much what you have done over the last year – keep it up, pray, do what the doctors tell you, and get back at it! Can’t wait to see what creative outlets you come up with…
Praying for you!
Bari
Hi Tracy
How your story brings back memories….
I partially tore my ACL almost 20 yrs ago…over the years, bit by bit I would do something like ski, run, golf and ball hockey.. once in a while my knee would pop out..tearing the acl bit by bit. Finally, it totally tore, I had to get it replaced 5 yrs ago! Best thing that I ever did. My knee and leg are stronger and I don’t have to worry about my ‘knee’ popping out and if I do something physical am I going to hurt myself all over again. I had a wonderful team of Dr.s. I had it done on friday and I was back to work on Tuesday, on crutches and the ice brace (i have a desk job) of course I had to put it up often but it wasn’t a problem. I didn’t have general anasthetic I had a spinal (epidural), that was the best…I didn’t have to deal with the after affects of the anasthetic.
You are in my thoughts for a positive and quick healing.
Jane Doe
London, Ontario, Canada
Best thing ever!
Hi Tracy,
Sorry to hear of your injury, but so thankful that you chose to share it with all of us! I didn’t know what ACL meant, so I googled it. I found a great website with pictures and easy to understand explanations.
I’ve had trouble with my right knee for almost two years. My doctor took an x-ray, said “arthritis” and “walk on it until you can’t take it anymore then you will have knee replacement.” I did not want to accept that. I got quite an education online and now have the exact words to describe the pain and discomfort that I have experienced and the possible reason that all this got started. I was beginning to think that it was all in my head. But that burden has been lifted!
I love your attitude. I’m going to try to adopt those thoughts from now on.
Thanks, again!
Hi Tracy,
Sorry to hear of your setback. We all have our cross to bare and God to strengthen us and carry us!!!!! Thanks be to him. I had to put my hubby of 56 yrs in a nursing home in Dec. He has alzeheimers. My life has been set back, alot. I now take life a day at a time {sometimes an hour} and enjoy the simple things in life. Remember to smell the roses, you will be good as new in no time. You are in my prayers. God bless. Jo
Hang in there….you have a positive attitude and that makes healing much better. Take it easy. Tie a knot at the bottom of the rope and swing baby swing. Take good care…. I can tell by other’s comments, there are a lot of people praying for you…me too….you are at the top of my prayer heap. cheers su “-}
Good Morning Dear Tracy, from Palm Desert, CA,
How surprised and sorry I am to read of your unfortunate injuries! Your positive and wonderful attitude, I feel, will get you through whatever you might have to endure (surgery, rehab. & physical therapy) with ease and speed.
My husband had a total knee replacement a year ago, went from the hospital to a place like a Rest Home, but it’s not, where the meals are prepared, you sleep there, and the main thing is you get intensive physical therapy!!!
He stayed there a couple of weeks, and then when he came home, a physical therapist came twice a week for another 2 wks.
While he was at the “home,” and the next day after the surgery, his leg was put in a brace, which kept it moving constantly…bending it up and down. They put this on him 3-4 times a day, and then at night while he was sleeping too. He used it at the “home,” but not when he came back home; however, they had him do different exercises, which are vital for complete recovery.
The key to a successful knee replacement is to keep it moving. Our friend’s surgeon didn’t put him on one of those moving machines, and he’s having lots of pain, difficulty sleeping, unable to walk without a limp, etc. My husband only took one pain pill, and was doing fine.
In fact, he’s at the doggie park with our 2 little rescue dogs as I’m writing to you now. And he’s 77 yrs. old! A month ago, he extended a countertop we have, to make a bar that we could sit at so we could watch t.v. while we eat, when there’s a special program. One of our gates was dragging, so this week he borrowed a drill from our next door neighbor, and fixed that. So you see, his knee is very flexible and working just fine!
Mort just loves it that I quilt! I’m a fairly new quilter…just about 4 years. Your fabric is wonderful, and I’ve ordered it by mail, and I love your website and your ideas, and I even made your tissue holder in a pretty purple flower fabric I had in my stash, and think of you every time I use it.
Thanks for everything you do for us, your positive attitude, and your lovely fabric. Most of all, you’re probably a terrific mother!
Take care of yourself,
Hugs & prayers go out to you,
Carole
You continue to be a joy and personal inspiration to me, Tracy. Although I’ve yet to meet you in person, I count you among those few precious souls that come into our lives for a life-changing purpose. Your light is shining as brightly as ever, dear Tracy!
Setbacks are opportunities. Physical setbacks can really take your breath away, AND they make you re-evaluate everything in your life. I have been living and fighting with cancer since October of 1998. I was training for an around the world bike trip when I was diagnosed, I had finished the Honolulu marathon and was quite active before cancer knocked on my door. I think one thing to focus on is the PT you will do while rehabbing. I hope you can find a great therapist (and if you can find one with an underwater treadmill, it will make rehabbing easier) and stick to their directions. On the less than ideally mobile side, you will have time to reflect, evaluate and do the sewing you want to do. As they say, when one door closes, another one opens. I am sure you will soldier through these trying times and let your faith lead you through the harder portions.
Cheers,
Lunachance
I had my meniscus removed 19 days before my wedding and 30 days before beginning a new teaching job in a new school district. I managed to use crutches for the wedding. I was walking in time to teach. Follow your doctor’s instructions exactly, and know that all the rest of us will help pray you through this.
So sorry to hear about your injury. I will add you to my prayer list. I am the proud? owner of a bad back and I have found that there are lots of satisfying things one can do while seated. I have prepared several projects for sewing while I have been sitting in from of the tube. I can use my computer while I am resting my back. I can only prune 3 of my 25+ roses at a time. That is why I am at the computer now. Good luck to you as you heal. I enjoy so very much your newsletters. Judy
Tracy: In 2006 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After several surgeries,
27 chemo treatments, innumerial tests and 3 year later, I have found that I am a stronger person, know more about what is important and what’s not.
According to Dr. Charles Stanley, adversity is sometimes God’s way of getting our attention and making us take inventory of our lives. I believe that as I have had to go through it.
Even though you may feel frustrated right now, use the time wisely and before you know it, it will pass and you can look back and say, what an interesting experience that was. Hopefully it will be an educational one.
Good luck and hang in there.
Pat
As always, you have such a good attitude. I hope the MRI shows not as much damage as you think. I’m sure all of us are looking forward to hearing about your exciting new ideas. This time sending YOU gentle hugs and smiles!
Tracy, So sorry to hear about your “setback.” I’ve just start walking on my treadmill..first time user…and decided to slow my pace a bit. Guess you can say I’m learning from YOUR misfortune but I don’t want to hurt myself. I hope you do not have to have surgery and will be able to recover on your own. Just remember, what ever does not get done, will wait for you to do it later or someone else to do it now.
Traci: I, too, am sorry to hear of your injury. I know you are a Christian and therefore you have a different perspective than some people. Your faith is what helps you have a positive attitude. As you state: “in the end I know my destination” – and, I’m sure that knowing that God is in control of all our situations will help in your recovery and your attitude. I have been disabled for several years, unable to walk but a few steps. I went through a period of “woe is me”, but I reminded myself that my God is greater than anything that comes my way. He has given me more time to do the craft and sewing things I so enjoy – He has allowed me to be able to spend much more time with my grandchildren. 1 John 4:4 state: “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.” May your recovery be quick and may you be stronger than before!
Thought and prayers are with you. I hope you have the best doctors and nurses in your area. I had a setback 2 years ago. And now I am okay. Mine was breast cancer. Keep us informed about your “journey” and the new ideas you get during this quiet time.
My thoughts and prayers are with you while you wait for results of your tests. I tore my ACL and meniscus two years ago. It took about 6 months before I was up and about without much pain. Hang in there……you are not alone! We will all be eager to hear about your healing progress and any new and wonderful projects you can think of for us.
Not to make light of your set back but wanted to tell you that my dog just suffered a complete tear of his ACL. He had surgery Thursday and is doing great. I can only hope the same for you. (i did not even know that dog had and ACL)>
I am so sorry about your injury; but, as someone has mentioned; you have the best attitude, which will probably help you to heal sooner. Fortunately, many of the things you love doing can be done without the use of your legs, so keep on keeping on! Best wishes to you.
Autumn Bea
Sorry about your mishap. Can empathize with you. I’ve had total knee replacement a week ago and doing therapy. This is the second knee. Ten months ago the right knee was replaced. Didn’t get any easier, but less pain (not much)and the recoup is still the same. Trust all will go well for you. These are times I don’t get much sewing accomplished.
So sorry about your knee. Hoping whatever has to be done to correct goes smoothly and you heal fast. On the upside, enjoy your new time with ideas and projects!
Sometimes “slowing down ” gives us a better view of the important things around us that we cannot see from the “fast lane” Wishing you a recovery as speedy or slow as YOU need.
Sorry to hear about your mishap Tracy. But your thinking is taking you in the right direction. I understand how you feel as I have problems with my back and knees and sometimes I’m not able to do what I want, so machine embroidering and quilting help me pass the time specially if I’m in pain.
Hope things as not as bad as they seams.
This “pause” in your training is a time to prioritize. Your whole being will benefit from it.