Today was a rough day, this week has been a rough week. Today, I had ankle surgery. The doctor (best foot and ankle doctor ever) did an ankle scope and a tendon repair of my peroneal tendon. I will be in a cast for 3 weeks and a boot for 3 weeks and 4 weeks of physical therapy. THEN - I can start running again... (well, actually I wog - walk/jog) BUT maybe my ankle will feel so much better I will be able to run faster than ever before!!!

I miss my cardio – it keeps me sane.

I learned a lesson this week about burdens and backpacks.

See, I had this major pity party and felt like nobody cared that I wouldn’t be able to make it the gym. (I am a true bonafide, gym-rat – at the gym 5 days a week). What to do if I can’t make it to the gym.

I have two grown children living at home and they just didn’t seem like they wanted to help mom out. They both work – but they both barely make enough to pay their bills – let alone worry about a rent or mortgage payment – so they live here rent free.

I kinda wanted them to just drop everything they were doing and drive me to the gym and go do errands, and go do the shopping and keep the house clean to my standards. I literally felt like I was losing control…and maybe I am to some extent. I was at the point where I wanted them to just move out. I don’t care – get a cardboard box, I told my son.

I think I was just scared of the surgery – and feeling out of control – and losing some independence.

Then I read this quote from TinyBuddha.com

NOTE TO SELF: I don’t have to take this day all at once, but rather one step, one breath, one moment at a time. I am only one person. Things will get done when they get done.

That really hit home. I realized I was really being a mega bitch. I apologized to my kids and I told them no matter what – I do appreciate them for who they are and what they do. They have dreams and desires and goals to accomplish too and together we help each other achieve them.

That’s when I realized that families are a lot like backpacks.

Backpacks are like a burden. People wear them everywhere – to school, on hikes, to the gym, the store, etc. but even though it’s strapped to our backs, it’s not the burden itself that’s important – it’s what’s inside. Families sometimes feel like a burden strapped to our backs… demanding money, time, attention… and sometimes that backpack feels heavy and we want to take it off and set it aside (and move to Jamaica man)

But we don’t take that backpack off because we know that the contents in that backpack are priceless. The contents in that backpack help us be successful in life. Those contents help us survive in a world full of negativity. Those contents are our families. Husbands, wives, children, siblings, moms and dads, friends, coaches, mentors, trainers and so on… Without that backpack – life would be out of balance. Keep that backpack on. Because, you my friend, have the best backpack of all –

My daughter bought me a new phone charger with flamingos that light up… Ha Ha – Flaming Flamingos

Today, I am starting a 30 day series on my YouTube channel – PositivelyDebbie.youtube.com staying Positive Even When You Want to Be Negative.

Please watch and don’t forget to subscribe to my You Tube channel and follow this blog if you haven’t already.