The only way back is forward

Big Creek - Spring ReflectionHave you ever done something in real life and immediately wished you could hit the virtual world's "BACK" button? That's exactly what I wanted to do April 18th when I stepped backwards off my second porch step, landed on the edge of the cement walkway and twisted my left ankle as I went down to the ground hard. I spent the evening at a Sister's of Mercy Urgent Care Center (these people are wonderful, by the way) awaiting X-rays and diagnosis of a fractured fibula. I had been sentenced to a cast and crutches for 6-8 weeks. (I'm aiming at four weeks!)

How could this happen at the height of Spring garden planting, photographic excursions and hiking the beautiful Blue Ridge Mtn trails around Asheville -- not to mention the upcoming trip to visit clients in NYC and Boston, and a week at the Outer Banks with family in late May. Could I just pretend it didn't happen and make it go away? Afraid not, Chris. Yea, it was a stupid move, but it is what it is. The only thing to do now, is move forward. There is no "BACK" button in real life!

So, a couple weeks into my unexpected adventure I thought it would be worthwhile to list some of what I've learned -- even if just for myself -- and perhaps you will find it useful as well. In a nutshell, the limited mobility has forced me to slow down and be more careful and thoughtful about everything I do. I'm getting an opportunity to be more in concert with my philosophy of "living fully in the present moment", and I must say, it's suprisingly profound in its impact. I encourage you to step back, slow down, take a few deep breaths and get in the present moment flow WITHOUT having to go through an incident like I did!

OK, here's the list: 

1. You cannot change what has already happened -- you can only move forward
2. Use the down time to reflect, re-focus, repair, strengthen, learn new things, and develop new skills, habits & attributes
3. Find creative ways to adapt to unexpected situations and discover new pathways that bring you joy and fulfillment
4. Don't be dissuaded from an inspired path, if upon reflection it still holds up in spite of changing circumstances
5. In truth, multi-tasking is a myth. The human mind can only focus on one thing in each micro-second, so pay attention to what's most important in the moment
6. Be happy, enjoy life, don't pout or complain