“On an airplane, you are always told to put on your oxygen mask first. The same way in life, you need to take care of your health first. If you are not happy and healthy, you cannot make anyone else happy and healthy..” – Rajashree Choudhury
About ten days ago, my friend got a hip replacement and was staying with us in the initial recovery period. My beloved neighbor who was a physical therapist for 40 years came over to give him tips. The one that caught my ear was to make sure he had a clear path.
He was talking about how to successfully navigate with a walker. I noticed the advice because we were trying to find a way to help. In a house with me, two kids, a 2-year-old dog, a cat, and a crested gecko, the floor is often cluttered. Not that the cat and the gecko have much to do with it. It was a good reminder to tend to the Legos, stuffies, and balls that regularly find their way to the floor.
But it also struck me as it’s such a great way to think about what we need in times we are repairing ourselves, inside and out. Sometimes we need to make sure we have a clear path for healing. To Lego of the grand ambitions, to clear the stuffies from our calendars, and to stop juggling the balls that are thrown our way.
My friend did a lot of thoughtful preparation for his hip replacement recovery. He parked his car in a different spot so people could come pick him up and drop him off with ease. He left a key outside the door so that others could let themselves in. Things to clear the path as he recovered.
As I learned when I got sick last week, we don’t always have the time to prepare to heal. But we can clear the path to assist our recovery when we need it.
(featured photo is Cooper the dog doing his best as a therapy dog)
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Surprised By Joy 
There’s always life instances that we need assistance. Stay healthy, Wynne and healing prayers for your friend, too.
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Perfect analogies, Wynne. It’s so neat you picked up on ‘clear the path’ and aligned it with an encouraging way to help heal ourselves. Such a timely post… Here’s to clear paths ahead. 💞😊
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This is powerful, Wynne:
“Sometimes we need to make sure we have a clear path for healing. To Lego of the grand ambitions, to clear the stuffies from our calendars, and to stop juggling the balls that are thrown our way.”
Sending all of my best wishes and hugs! 💝
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That’s such a goood way of thinking about it. Hope you’re much better now ❤️
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Such a great analogy! There is a lot more ease in life if we observe, and possibly adjust our environment, before taking our first step. Wishing your friend a speedy and full recovery! ❤️
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I was half-expecting this post to turn funny with the clear the path and the dog is clearning NOT clearing the path 😉
That said, yes, it is so important. Hope you feel better and your friend recovers well from his surgery.
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“In a house with me, two kids, a 2-year-old dog, a cat, and a crested gecko, the floor is often cluttered. Not that the cat and the gecko have much to do with it.” ☺️ … but … therein with in care of Wynne, Miss O, Mr. D, along with puppy, cat and crested gecko lies the special ‘cluttered’ healing therapy that no medical can ever provide. God bless you guys.
If Ellen’s no longer around and I break a hip, I’ m calling your Wynne 😊
Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!
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Linking Legos, stuffies, and balls to healing – well done, Wynne!
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Clear the decks is a good healing motto, it also works for repairs to the home. I open a path to the item to be repaired, taking delicate items and obstructions out of the way. Helps every time. Although the corollary is that there is always one extra room I haven’t planned for work boots to enter…
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Love Cooper as the emotional support dog.
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Cooper is offering your friend a very useful pet-therapy!
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Good advice, Wynne.When we in haste we are more likely to stumble along the path. May your friend have an easy recovery.
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I agree we should execute a game plan ahead of expected lifestyle disruptions, and make a path as effortless as possible for everyone involved to navigate. And because we’re talking life here, the unexpected is expected, and having that well-cleared path is going to come in very handy when and if obstacles arise, Wynne. Great example here!
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I love this analogy. Sometimes we also just need to get out of our own way. The mental and emotional obstacles we put up are often not real, they just feel real because we are fearful of taking an unknown step. “The devil known” and all that. Being able to move forward in our lives often requires a new mindset, so removing the obstacles is an excellent first step!
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A great life lesson and analogy. Thanks Wynne.
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