The Stillness I Didn't Know I Needed
Just after Christmas, my world shrank to the four walls of my living room. A fresh surgical scar is a tight reminder that physical activity beyond walking is a major expedition, confining me to a version of "house arrest." Now, before I get too dramatic, I realize this is the time of year when most Missourians are stuck inside anyway, battling their own mild cases of cabin fever. If I could have chosen a time to be laid up, it would always be these cold winter months. The bare, gray landscape outside my window perfectly mirrors this quiet, forced hibernation; a necessary stillness that's teaching me the unexpected value of slow recovery before spring finally arrives. My forced hiatus has given me the opportunity to reflect on what is important, what I'm missing, and, quite frankly, what I can live without. It's easy to take the little things for granted when we don't take the time to recognize them. I spent the months leading up to surgery completing 100 push...