Today I challenged myself to head down the NINETY-ONE steep steps to Lake Erie to collect rocks to finish our Rock Garden edging! I had not done this since before my two knee replacements in 2015.
Stairs have always scared me. I toppled down FOURTEEN of them in my house when I was ten when I tripped over a shoelace and have been wary of steps since then.
I REALLY wanted to finish our Rock Garden edging, though, and Lake Erie is one of my very favorite places. I decided it was time to DO IT!
Standing at the top of those NINETY-ONE steps this morning was quite intimidating! I had gone up and down them many times prior to my surgeries, but THIS TIME was different. I now had two knee replacements. I had done six months of physical therapy to get myself back to normal following those knee replacements. I have challenged myself many times in the last two years since my surgeries from standing eight hours at a political rally last summer to walking several miles on a beach picnic with my son and granddaughter last month and working in my garden and in my yard for hours day after day this summer without needing to sit down as I USED to have to do.
These NINETY-ONE STEPS were a NEW challenge. Could I do it? Would I slip and fall? Could I make it BACK UP the NINETY-ONE STEPS carrying a large bag of large rocks?
I decided to take my time, HOLD ONTO the railing, and REST if I need to rest. I said a prayer and WENT FOR IT!
It was SUCH a wonderful feeling when I got down to the beach! The weather was PERFECT, and the waves were just beautiful. I secured my large canvas bag, phone, and car keys out of the way of oncoming waves and went to work finding great rocks for my Rock Garden. I watched the gulls searching for their breakfasts. I stepped into the lake water time after time to snatch a perfect rock before being engulfed by a wave. I got braver as I realized that my balance was DARN GOOD! I headed out further for even better rocks and enjoyed it once again when the waves crashed against me and I got wet but DID NOT FALL!
I collected a full bag of rocks and then collected more! Yes, I was planning to head BACK UP those NINETY-ONE STEPS with my bag of rocks then RETURNING for the rest to make a SECOND TRIP!
I rested on the bench at the top of the steps. I had some water and a granola bar I had brought with me. I snapped a selfie with my bag of rocks. I felt like I had just reached the finish line of a marathon!
I headed back to my Jeep, unloaded my rocks and HEADED BACK to do it all over again!
Today I felt very empowered. Today I challenged myself and succeeded.
I hope that everyone reading this will experience empowerment as YOU challenge YOURSELF to try something that MAY be just a little bit scary. It feels WONDERFUL when you reach your goal-- no matter whether it is accomplishing a new exercise or overcoming a fear in order to reach a personal goal.
Wishing all of us continued progress as we get our lives back again!♥️