Let's Celebrate Milestones

I meant to write this blog on Tuesday, but time got away from me. On Tuesday, I celebrated my ONE WEEK ANNIVERSARY of walking without my cane. It is a freaking huge accomplishment and not only am I patting myself on the back to celebrate, I've been considering hopping on a parade float in my honor.

I am so proud of myself for taking these steps (pun kind of intended) as proof of belief in myself. I set a goal for myself, and I can't get to that "end" piece without all of these interim pieces, and I am doing it. Am I without pain? No. Am I without fear? no. Am I able to have all things aligned perfectly? No. and that's really the point for me to continue to drive home for myself. Nothing has to be perfect in order for me to start. I JUST NEED TO START.

Not walking with a cane provides another benefit. I now have a "free hand." My next BIG milestone that I celebrated today was stopping at the coffee place in my building and getting a cold brew (ahem, coffee!) for a staff member. For the entire academic year that began last September, I would send student staff to get me water or coffee/tea, because I was in too much pain to get up, or did not try hard enough to get up myself.

For anyone who has felt tied to a specific apparatus to be mobile, you can understand the dizzying excitement that comes from self-sufficiency. Oh, I still have a long way to go, but I have made more than a start. This for me is a giant leap forward on both counts.

Tell me about a milestone you can celebrate this week, so I can hop on your parade float, too!