Recently someone close to me (hi Sarah!) asked me a really hard question. Do you think that if your knee can’t be fixed you could make peace with your current level of ability? How would you feel about a new normal where your level of activity is set by the limitations of your knee?
It’s pretty clear I’d get back to riding so long distance cycling stays on the agenda. Everything else is short. With pain.
I didn’t know how to answer that question. I’d find other things to do. I’m a relentless optimist. Life would still be rich and rewarding.
I’d read more books.
Maybe I could learn to swim? I don’t know. I’m still thinking about this.
Today I met a new physio person at the University of Guelph clinic. She was lovely. She protested though when I called my left knee “the bad knee.”
We don’t say that here. We talk about the affected knee and the unaffected knee. They’re both good knees. It’s your body, she said. You should appreciate and take care of your knee. No name calling.
Our job here is to help you support the left knee.
Here’s the sign outside the physio clinic. Recovery, success, those are words I like.
Acceptance and compassion are not exactly my strong suit when it comes to me. But I’m thinking about it.
