We Always Have A Choice
Have you ever wondered what choice you have when something terrible happens?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that no matter what happens in life, we always have a choice in how we respond. In fact it has been the power of positive choices that have helped me through some very difficult experiences.
The most recent occurred this summer when I fell at a family reunion held on our grand parents farm in Idaho. Just days before the event my husband and I agreed to not do anything that could get us hurt. What did I do? I participated in the old farm fun contest of throwing dry cow-pies! Yes, you got it -cow-pies!!
Well, my body and balance aren’t what they used to be and I fell! Instantly I knew that the loud pop I heard and felt when I landed full force on my left side could mean only one thing-my hip was broken! I suddenly had this sickening feeling of regret. “You idiot, if only you hadn’t done such a stupid thing as get involved in this silly contest? Now you’ve ruined the family reunion AND your own summer. No motorcycle riding for you!”
Friends it is so easy to get stuck in the “if onlys” of life. “If only I hadn’t….; If only I could…..” We can beat up on ourselves till we’re black and blue, but reliving and repeating the “if only” comments doesn’t help anything.
As family gathered around me as I lay waiting for the ambulance, I remembered my own philosophy, “You may not be able to change what happened, but you always have a choice in how you respond.”
I immediately made the choice to accept the situation for what it was and to make the best of it. I started making wise cracks, laughing at the absurdity of what happened and imagining how to share such a comical and humiliating story with my friends and professional colleagues at home. The endorphins created by all the laughter and joking lightened the spirit, but also helped in managing my pain.
Recovery from total hip replacement surgery has been a lot of hard work, but each day I chose to work hard, to maintain a positive attitude and and to be grateful for the daily improvements and speedy recovery. And get this-with my surgeon’s blessing, I was back on my big beautiful Harley Davidson motorcycle just 6 weeks after that fateful day!
Our choice to accept the situation we find ourselves in is crucial to overcoming the problem. The difficulty won’t magically disappear, but making the choice of a positive attitude changes your perspective and even helps your body secrete hormones that will enhance your ability to overcome the situation and to move beyond the “if only”.
