Staying Grounded equals Coming Home

apology to readers

Two siblings told me recently I should continue blogging. When I revise, I go deep into my stories and they take over my world. These last few months I’ve been simultaneously revising two manuscripts. Now I’m down to one, but it still takes something of an earthquake to jar me out of that preoccupation. A mini-earthquake, anyway.

Valentines day tumble

I really didn’t want to get out of bed, but if I don’t take my walk early, it’s too late. Sophie demands her own walk. I get involved in writing. Later, I tell myself I’m too tired, or don’t want to leave my book, or whatever.

So while walking, I was engrossed in being tired, hungry, and wishing I was there already; I looked at some construction across the street; my toe caught and down I went—making a five-point landing: hands, knees, chin.

I rolled over and sat a moment, grateful for gloves that had protected my hands, and heavy jeans that protected my knees. And especially for the many appointments with OsteoStrong, in maintaining and improving my bone density. Later, judging from the evidence, my first contact with the road was my right ring finger—a blood blister on its tip.

I got to my feet. Go home? No tea or breakfast ready there—nor the Valentine cookie intended for my love. So I walked carefully the rest of the way.

stay grounded!

Several years ago I learned the importance of staying grounded, especially when taking a walk. That day, I saw the uplifted sidewalk ahead of me, but my thoughts were far far away. I fell and broke my little finger.

Lesson learned: maintain attention on my body, especially my feet. But just to be sure I would remember, a second lesson arrived the day my cast was to come off.

Taz had been unwell. While mopping up one accident, I stepped into another. Turning too quickly on the wet floor, I went down. No harm done—but the second fall underscored, highlighted, and impressed the importance of always being aware of the ground beneath me.

For years, after miles and miles of walking, of feeling the ground under my feet, of thinking any thoughts, even fantastical ones, so long as that awareness held, on annual doctor visits, I could answer proudly, “No recent falls.”

Let this be my renewed lesson for the next many years. Avoid wishful thinking and negative thoughts. Be mindful of my true feelings.

Staying grounded is a way of coming home.