Grounded and grinded- A life changing event (#2)

 

(If you stumble upon this post, I want you to know that this is a part of my personal story. As every story has a beginning and every episode/post has a context, I believe this post makes sense to you if you start from the beginning. Click here to go to the start.)

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Warm-up:

It was a wonderful morning. I woke up early and went to the gym. It was a guided outdoor activity, and the trainer got the best out of me that day. There are good days and bad days at the gym. But that day was a great day- I pushed myself very hard and moved around the gym with my chest up. 

Cool-down:

I had finished my workout at the gym and was waiting for a colleague. My monkey mind was impatient to wait and wanted to pass the time. So I went to the basketball court outside the gym and joined a group of folks. They were having fun with a game.

Near the goalpost, cross-fit tires (gym gear) were piled up on the court.  The object of the game was to leap to the top of the pile and grab the basketball hoop. It was fun. Only a few were able to do it. I felt a little challenged there and participated in it. 

It was my turn. I leapt, missed the target, and grounded(with a little exception though).

I fell on my foot improperly and broke my ankle.

Credits-giphy.com

First reaction: 

I still recall my first reaction and am proud of it. I wasn't in a panic. I realized there was a problem as soon as I fell, called my sister (the doctor), and followed everything as directed. Fortunately, she arranged the surgery immediately.

I was so normal even during the surgery that I asked the surgeon if I could see the procedure on the monitor, and he was gracious enough to let me. It was a fantastic experience.

Finally, I was out of the operation theatre as an iron man.🤣 

Good beginnings:

The initial 10 days were easy. Honestly, I was happy that I got a break from the office. I read a couple of books and binge-watched some movies and TV series. 

But I got bored of them eventually.

Although there is unconditional love all around to take care of me,  the idea of having to rely on them for everything made me squirm. I don't recall ever having a fever for more than two to three days at a stretch prior to this. This made my situation worse.

Then came GOOGLE. 

Googly by Google:

After my surgery, I remember the doctor saying, "You are fortunate to have received timely treatment. In the ankle, there is a small bone called Talus, which if not operated on promptly may result in permanent physical disability."

There it is..... solid Google material- "What is talus?" / "What are the complications of talus" /  "Symptoms of serious Talus injuries" .........and so on....😆

By that point, I had grown tired with everything and was without something to do, so I began researching this. Online, I came across horror stories, and my terror started to take over.

I even read the information from my sister's books about the physiology and anatomy of the ankle.

This half-baked knowledge caught me completely off guard. It was a never-ending cycle.

That was the lowest I've ever felt in my life. I was not in control of my mind. In retrospect, though, I can say that it was also the most transformative time in my life.

The End or the new beginning?:

Fortunately, everything ended well. After 4 weeks, when the doctor asked me to walk normally, I climbed a 3-storey building to reach my penthouse. It was an experience beyond words to get back on my feet.

But, this experience made me realise some hard truths experientially:

• First and foremost, it's the accident itself. It is plain luck that I landed on my feet. But, the chances of a worse outcome was equally likely. For example, while landing, a slight change in angle could have resulted in either a back or a head injury. 
• Furthermore, having my office colleagues available on the spot, having a doctor sister, being operated on time, and avoiding a physical disability... everything worked in my favor. 
• I learned through experience that there is uncertainty everywhere, and that anything (including death) can happen at any time. The next moment may or may not be mine.
• So, the best I can do is to not compromise my life(and time). More importantly, because good and bad outcomes are equally likely, I need to prepare myself better to face the worst-case scenarios in the future. 
• I understood that preparing for adversity is a mental activity, and it is essential to start by understanding how our mind works. (Honestly, I was dissatisfied with my own behaviour during that lowest phase).
• Thanks to the internet, I did a psychology course online and read a couple of books on brain and its workings. But there is one book I find interesting. 

What is that book?

What did I learn from that book? 

Did I get what I want?

(Click here to know)