a lesson in slowing down.

i have never been naturally agile or surefooted.

quite the opposite, in fact. i trip over things. run into doorposts.

i have weak ankles-- leading into the occasional wobble on uneven sidewalks and, most recently, a topple down the stairs.

four stairs to be exact. and in front of a friend's house. one of those slow-motion falls that was a result of me trying to walk and turn around to say goodbye simultaneously. and somehow i ended up on the ground with BOTH ankles sprained and sitting sprawled out on my friend's front lawn.

i was SO EMBARASSED.

i really thought i had broken both feet, but after some time, the pain was less intense and i was able to hobble to my car and drive home. i have never wished for cruise control more than in that hour drive back to my house.

it is funny how sometimes a change in what is 'normal' can lead you to appreciate what is usually normal. i knew that my feet were injured, but i also knew that in time they would get better. but i still found myself identifying with senior citizens in the 60 seconds it took me to walk the crosswalk into the grocerystore. and i became more aware of how FAST people are-- zooming here and there with their shopping carts and small children-- i was always in the way. and man did i want to get out of there as fast as possible, too, but it still took me an hour to grab just a few items.

it's now day five since the occasion, and i'm only now able to walk around liberally without too much pain. and the swelling is almost gone. but i hope that perhaps the slowness will remain-- just so i can continue to see people. to bear witness to how hard it is just to get out in the world and keep moving forward. and to experience the thankfulness that comes from knowing that these moments {whether painful or pleasing} will pass.