I’m writing tonight from my hospital bed. Yesterday, I was sidelined after my horse Smooch, slammed me into the wall of a round pen, before my body fell painfully to the ground. I felt the crunch of bone giving way as the impact fractured my hip.
Thankfully a friend was with me at the time. The fall was so hard, all I could do was lay on the ground crying, trying to catch my breath.
My friend ran to get her car. After a minute or so, I tried to get up, but my left leg wouldn’t bear any weight. I could, however, crawl. There I was, battered, bruised, and bleeding, in shorts, tank top and boots, crawling through the sand, praying to God for every inch of progress.
When my friend arrived with her car, she helped me slowly get into the front seat. We drove five minutes to Martin Army Hospital, here on Fort Benning. The ER staff was fabulous, gently lifting me out of the low-slung car onto a stretcher. IVs were started, X-rays and CT scans completed. It was determined I needed a hip surgery, one requiring me to be transferred to a larger local hospital specializing in trauma medicine.
The new ER couldn’t have been more different than the last. I was neglected, disrespected and left to fend for myself with one working leg. Vulnerable, scared and alone, I did something that I wouldn’t have been able to a few years ago. I reached out for help. Within 20 minutes, at 1:30 a.m., my oldest daughter and one of my closest friends arrived ready to demand the help a hospital should offer without request.
In my weakness, in the midst of a painful experience, I allowed others to help me, giving them power in what was a powerless situation for all. We reaped the benefits of shared cooperation, love and support.
My daughter was able to meet and get to know my friend. Between the two of them, I had strong advocates. I received the care I needed due to their intervention. It worked out for everyone involved, except those people not doing their jobs.
During the past two days, people stepped up to help me in ways I never expected or even hoped for. My hip surgery went smoothly. I’m already up and walking, less than six hours afterwards.
It’s my experience we get what we look for in life’s happenings. I prefer to see the good. Sure I broke my hip. Yes, I’m in more pain than I EVER want to be in again. I also saw altruism, true friendship and experienced unconditional love. I received much more than I lost.
Life is perception. What does yours look like? If you don’t like what you see, you can create a whole new life by simply changing how you view what happens to and around you. It all starts with a try. One small effort will transform your life! What are you waiting for?!
Robin Aldrich is the author of Bootstrapped! Creating a Small Business on a Budget. Robin founded the Boomerang Business Project in 2015 to help other small businesses thrive through personal and professional development.
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Originally published at medium.com