Life is all just an issue of perception. Your reality isn't actually reality...but what you perceive it to be. So if you change your perception of the situation, you change your reality...and therefore your feelings associated with said reality. Wouldn't it be true then...that we're each the master of our own universe? and therefore our own happiness? Ha...pretty deep for quarter to 11 on a Monday, eh? ;)
Here's my point.
I was driving downtown today...waiting at a stop light...watching people criss-cross the street.
That's when I spotted her.
A runner.
Damnit! I want to be running. It was sunny, the sidewalks were clear (mostly) and my hair would have looked phenomenal flipping in the wind (haha!). PLUS! I bought a pair of Under Armour "Cold Gear" Running pants that I'm pretty much dying to whip out. And just as I was lapsing into this beautiful day dream of my muscles rippling in the gentle sunlight...a sharp pain in my left knee brought me crashing back to reality.
Possible torn meniscus...patella tendinitis. An MRI looms before me...along with the threat of surgery. Somehow watching this blonde-haired bunny saunter down the street in a light jog, no longer seemed appealing. I went into full out "sorry for myself" mode. Ugh. My knee hurts. Even if I don't need surgery...the healing time will still be weeks...though the doc said I could still resume my marathon training and still be fine. If I end up needing surgery, the doc says I'm out of the race. So here I sit, at a stop light...in a hunky, uncomfortable brace...days before my very first trip to New Orleans, where I'm bound to wear (gasp!) shorts and dresses, and maybe even (dun, dun, dun) a bikini. Who feels sexy in a bikini and a knee brace? I mean...seriously. You're killin' me knee. Couldn't you have done this AFTER my vacation? or just not at all? That would be nice.
And then...the light turned green. My eyes went from the runner on the right side of the road...to the man standing on the left side. I didn't noticed anything different at first, but as I continued through the intersection, and got closer to him...I saw it.
He was missing a leg.
Perception.Reality.Happiness.
My perception was miserable...sorry for myself...and mopey. And for a brief moment, that was my reality. But this man crossing the street on crutches (which have become my nemesis in the past week), helped bring everything back into perspective.
It's kind of like my "mobility" post earlier in the week. You don't really realize what you have until it's gone. On the flip side...you don't really realize how lucky you are to have what you have, until you meet someone that doesn't have it.
Yes, my knee cap may have delivered some of the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced in the past few days...but at least I have a knee cap.
Yes, my hands may be bruised from the crutches, and I may have had a few close calls with death because of them, but unlike the guy on the corner, I won't have to use them forever.
And yes, I may jokingly worry about my sex appeal in NOLA with a knee brace on, but I can take that off when I'm pool side. There's not much you can do to stop people from staring/gawking when you don't have a leg.
Perception.Reality.Happiness.
A man on a street corner had a profound impact on all three of those today.
And I'm thankful for that :)
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