Don't Count Your Chickens...

Hi Readers,

Another post inspired by some things that have happened recently that appear so mediocre, but still prey on my mind until I get off my butt and write about them.

I guess that's where I make the most sense out of the things that happen in my life, when I write about them as it always gives me clarity. 

I can't even remember what program I was watching when someone said something like "We should always take that next step as we never know what we are really capable of".

Dang!!!

It just stayed with me for days, why I don't have any idea, but it just resonated so much.

Which is how I came to the title of this post.

Recently I had a few things happen and I began to feel that I had no control over them and that my future was already defined and not really looking like changing. This really bugged me as I have always been a generally optimistic person, and to be thinking in this manner really shocked me. I was counting my chickens way too soon and locking myself into a future of mediocrity.

I received the most lovely message yesterday from someone whose child had suffered horrendous injuries in an accident earlier this year, not long after I had my own knee and ankle surgery. Here's me getting frustrated with how long my recovery is taking and what I will or won't be able to do in the future, and here is this child with so much ahead of them looking at a recovery period far more challenging than anything I've ever had to endure.

Talk about a case of taking some Perspective Pills!!!

Rather than see his injuries as a massive handicap, this child has the most positive attitude knowing that this hiccup will pass and his life will get back to normal again. Who knows, he may be even more capable at what he loves doing as he has nearly had it taken away from him. He is already taking that next step and although they will be tiny steps to start with, in my mind they are huge as he has hope and ambition in his recovery.

It would be so easy for him to sit back and say "I'll never be able to do that again", but knowing him that thought will never get past first base and he will be itching to be back better than ever before. He just inspires me to never count my chickens too soon, even at my age.

When Henry Ford said "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right", I think of this child and his confidence and positive outlook. This setback will no doubt inspire him through life in overcoming challenges and achieving objectives. It's not always what happens to you, but what you do about it, something that we have all probably heard countless times, but do we do anything about it?

Last week I had an appointment with my surgeon who gave me the okay to ditch my boot after around 16 weeks. I was then on crutches and a walking stick for two more weeks, and on Thursday I was given the okay to start walking. I still look like a sniper's nightmare as I am hobbling a lot when I walk as so much has stiffened or wasted away.

For the first few days I was feeling like this was my future until I heard that comment that I mentioned earlier. Talk about a change in mindset!!

The next morning I was hoping to do a lap of the lake here in Bendigo, but as usual my ambition exceeded my ability. Let's just say I'll need to gradually work up to that distance as just walking from my car and doing a few laps of the supermarket is a challenge. For now!!!

Rather than counting my chickens too soon and adopting the view that walking is going to be a continual challenge, I have renewed vigour to do the rehab as best as I can and come back better than ever.

During my recuperation there have been so many things that I thought would never happen again, and perhaps this mindset was fed by being housebound for so long. It's easy to let the mind wander at these times and today I just want to slap myself for allowing myself to think like that. I sold my caravan and 4WD a while ago, but even since then I have developed a new perspective about what I might be able to do next year when I want to start travelling again as I know that I will be so much more mobile. Limited still, but more mobile with a more positive attitude.

There will no doubt be more overseas travel as some family members are moving overseas. That's incentive enough to get this recovery happening, as I just don't want to end up just hanging around the house all the time.

I also want to do more travelling around Australia, and have been making plans as to how to do this already and am genuinely excited by this prospect. When I do get this started I can guarantee that most people who know me will say "Yep, he's totally lost it!!"

When I ran this idea past our boys recently, all they could say was "Dad, just do what makes you happy". No judgement, just wanting me to be happy. Love them!!

Back in the day when I was able to run a lot, there were times when an injury would arise and I'd have to take it easy. Jen would say to me "Why don't you just go for a walk?" 

And I'd reply with something like "What, who would bother to walk??" This was at a time when if I only had time to go for a 2-3km run, I wouldn't as it wasn't far enough. How things have changed!!!

Now I'd give anything to go for a walk, but rather than counting my chickens and thinking that it won't happen, I'm just patiently waiting for that time when it will be something that I just won't have to think about.

When I saw the news last night the weather prediction for here wasn't really that great, so I was envisaging being inside most of the day waiting for the football to come on later in the day. It's amazing how just a burst of sunshine can change the way one looks at things, even if it is still quite cold here today. I've been up and about getting all the usual jobs done and all that has changed is that the living area is basked in light, I have great music playing and I'm at the bench writing this. When we bought this house the open living area was the thing that grabbed us as we could just see ourselves enjoying the space just as I am doing now. If my chickens had been counted last night, then there's no way that I'd be enjoying the day as much as I am now.

And to add to the greatness of today, even my weekly visit to the cemetery to visit Jen was okay. To me, it is both the best and worst time of the week and I don't expect anyone to understand that. I look forward to going there, but I hate it when I'm leaving. But by being able to look forward with a positive attitude always makes things easier. Someone is always doing it worse, so when I go to the tablet cupboard and have one of my perspective pills I am on track again in no time at all.

Just as I said earlier when referring to the child with the terrible injuries, in comparison I just have a splinter, so my life is pretty easy.

So Readers, the point of this indulgent post is to suggest that when we count our chickens too soon we can end up resigning ourselves to a life of mediocrity, and by the time we realise we could have done so much more, it may be too late. I don't mean that we might fall off the perch and miss out, we just might not identify what we can still actually do. I'd love to run a marathon again (I'd just love to be able to run!) but I fully know that just isn't going to happen. So it might just have to be a walk from now on 

Yes, I'm following your advice Jen!!!

And probably the other thing that has me so excited lately is the fact that I can now get back on my bike and get some aerobic fitness going again. I'm not on the road yet, just on the roller in the shed, but a little of something sure beats a little of nothing!!!

Readers, I hope that you can identify some ways that you can look at what chickens you have counted, and see if there are some that that have not been counted yet!!

And to the big increase in Readers from the USA, welcome aboard, please feel free to leave a comment if you want. 👌🇺🇸

Until my next post,

Cheers 😁