Extra TLC After Wiping Out in the Street
Extra TLC After Wiping Out in the Street
Trying not to slip into victim mode.
It happened so fast: Before I knew it, I was flying through the air. I didn’t have time to realize I should let go of my phone, which I was clutching in my right hand. So I crashed down on the concrete on my right forearm and elbow, both knees, and the bottom inner quadrant of my left hand.
This past Saturday, I took my second big spill in a little over a year while I was running outside on a nearby nature trail. It’s hard to know for sure, but I think I launched off an uneven curb as I was crossing a street that intersects with the trail. Last summer, when I was running on the same trail, I tripped on a rock or tree root and fell in the dirt. The benefit: The dirt trail provided a softer landing than the hard concrete road. The downside: Dirt was embedded in my cuts and scrapes. This time, they were a lot easier to clean.
Taking such a big, painful fall this weekend was a huge bummer, and I’ve been throwing myself a pity party all week. My knees are sore and bruised and it hurts to walk as I hobble around. The wound on my arm is especially icky. In a Halloween-themed moment, as I was changing the bandage the other day I realized it looks like the texture of Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Kruger’s face.
The main reason I exercise is for my mental health and the mood and energy boost working out gives me. After feeling down for several days last week, that mood boost was exactly what I was seeking when I hit the trail on Saturday. Needlessly to say, there was no burst of endorphins experienced. Instead, now I’m sidelined from running or going to a yoga class until these wounds heal, which will probably take at least a few weeks if not longer. And I worry about the impact of this forced exercise hiatus on my energy level, mental health, and overall outlook on life.
Since my fall, I’ve been engaged in an internal tug-of-war; my default is to slip into victim mode, but I’m fighting to overcome that tendency. Here’s what my internal battle has looked like this week — and which side of me is winning.