“It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.”
–Joseph Campbell
Gravity took a liking to me Friday night….I was getting dressed up to go to my friend Susanna Liller’s book signing for her awesome new book, Circle of Power. All dressed up for a night out with the ladies, I headed down my stairs and tripped on my heels, falling to the bottom of our steep old house stairs. After making sure all the vital parts of myself were intact, I tried to move. No such luck. Then, I really tried to move. Nope, that was not part of the plan.
My ride to the book signing party showed up at my door and found me on the ground. Within a moment she had helped me to the couch and we began to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. We talked and she opened some wine to make the night more festive while I rested on the couch. We laughed for hours eating pizza and had our own party while debating if my leg was broken or not.
While I woke up the next morning very clear that my leg WAS broken, I realized how much fun I had had just sitting on the couch talking to this new and already dear friend. It made me stop to think about how we just never know what an experience is going to give us. I had been so determined to go to this event to celebrate and meet and network with new people. But gravity had intervened and asked me to take a seat and relax.
“The Barn has burnt down, now I can see the moon.”
Masahide
It is so easy to say, “This is good” or “That is bad”, but how do we know until we allow ourselves the distance from the situation to know what its fruit is. This is why the laughter that night of the fall was so helpful. It allowed me to remain open to the experience instead of focusing on what I was missing and the future of what might happen.
While I do my best to see everything as an “opportunity” for growth, but challenging myself to see the experience as a “treasure” was powerful. “Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.” Wow. It elevated my whole notion of the experience. What was the treasure of falling and breaking my leg?
These came to me immediately:
1. Slowing Down- allowing myself to feel the energy of each moment before taking action.
2. Allowing people to help- always a hard one for the uber self-sufficient types like myself.
3. Being open to exchanging a planned experience for an unexpected one-like time with a new friend.
4. Letting the joy and peace I was feeling internally be a stronger voice than the physical body.
5. Laughing really is pretty sweet medicine!
AND OF COURSE….
I started to celebrate all the things one can only do with a broken leg! Such as:
USE THE MOTORIZED CART AT THE GROCERY STORE
(Something I have always wanted to do!)
What treasures have your stumbles offered you that you might have missed without the fall?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s all about finding the right perspective. I love this post.
My favorite line was, “It is so easy to say, “This is good” or “That is bad”, but how do we know until we allow ourselves the distance from the situation to know what its fruit is.”
The distance that we create will help us truly understand what we can learn from a situation. Even one where we end up with a broken leg.
I’m working on creating more distance from the business that I’m trying to build. I’ve been so focused on trying to make it into a money maker I’ve stopped having fun with it. I’m creating some distance tonight and appreciating how much I’ve learned.
I LOVE the red nose!!! Well…and the umbrella hat and lei!
You, Ms. Katie, are having wayyy too much fun with this! (and that is so awesome!)
It’s all too easy to see the bad (the stumbles in life) as bad. If we can shift our perspective, though, and really “be” in these moments too – there is treasure there.
Katie, that you are “seeing” this is testament to the person you are (‘amazing’ comes to mind…).
I’m reminded of this time many years ago – when we lost our daughter at a huge state park (scariest moment of my life – and not one I want to ever experience again). While this was a terrible moment when it happened – the beauty in it all was the help we received from both friends and strangers. And that moment when we were reunited (which happened to be me stumbling upon her) was one I’ll never forget – especially the deepest love I have ever felt. In that moment, there was this change in perspective of what really matters – and how deeply important human life is. I never ever want to go through that again, and still – even in what, at the time, was the most terrible thing happening – there was treasure even there.
Katie, know that I see you as a beacon of light and hope in our world. The upside of YOU is shining so brightly through here today!
What a shining example for me in not letting any physical disability dent my spirit!!! Love the lessons you have for us all! You’ve got such a beautiful soul, my dear friend. Keep up your great work in inspiring us all!
Katie, I’m sorry about your leg, but like you I try to see God’s plan in unexpected events. What a great outlook you have, even with a broken appendage! Drinking wine & eating pizza? Did the wine dull the pain or are you superwoman? (smile)
I loved the pictures, by the way. Seems you have fun absolutely everywhere you go, which I greatly admire.
Earlier this year I injured myself running, but since I believe that mind & body are intricately connected, I knew I had to find the thought pattern that caused my injury. Turns out it was related to balance, and sure enough, my thoughts about one topic in particular were greatly out of balance. The injury forced me to slow down (!!) and investigate my outdated beliefs. More than that, it forced me to come to terms with and release them from my life. My injury healed in less than two weeks, and I’ve known others to have similar injuries for which doctors said it could take four to six weeks to heal.
I really love letting my body be a feedback mechanism in that way.
Enjoy your holiday, and rest up!
Ok, so that picture of you in the motorized cart made my day. (And that’s saying nothing about your wonderful attitude.) Keep practicing what you preach. It’s terribly inspiring.
Katie,
I’m sure you’ll be healing quickly because laughter heals;) I love the photo and how you can put your positive spin on a difficult situation. You inspire us all to do the same!
Oh my dear heavens. Heal well and fast, you marvelously magical mirth maker and merry monger.
xo
Oh you poor thing! But what a great example of making a potentially ‘woe is me’ situation into a adventure! I had a cast on my right wrist last year and laughter yoga was a real challenge. But I EXCELLED at royalty laughter! hahaha!! Let me know the new exerercise you come up for a broken leg!! hahaha! Love you girl!
Hi Katie
Oh my goodness, you are something else! What an attitude and what an inspiration!
The photos are fantastic, and the lessons and growth you pointed out that came from this experience, even better. What a shining example of light you are, as you show that in every situation we can be the happiness we choose to have – no matter what.
With that kind of an attitude, I can only imagine how fast your leg will heal, and your whole body radiate with an even deeper and new view of many things