It’s Christmas. Apparently. I keep forgetting this fact, because my injury happened at the end of July and it honestly feels like my life has been put on pause. Like one of those streaming services asking, “Are you still watching?”
Yes. I am. I’ve been watching this ankle for 133 days.
The kids, I suspect, would be absolutely thrilled if I came with a mute button. If my mouth and vocal cords could just be turned off occasionally, I think we’d all have a more peaceful household. A Christmas miracle, really.
Going to bed at night is still a joy — and by joy, I mean my foot is so hot it could heat the house. The tissue is still remodelling, even now. Which is fascinating… except I’d really love it if it could schedule that remodelling for, say, the middle of the afternoon instead of when I’m trying to sleep.
And the reality is — no amount of advice from physios, doctors, experts, podcasts, or well-meaning strangers is going to do the hard work for me. I just have to do it.
One thing I have learned — and apparently wisdom comes in the form of a ridiculously long, painful injury — is the power of positive self-talk.
Instead of “I have to”, “I must”, or “I need to”, I’m switching it to:
👉 I want to.
And suddenly, life is full of possibilities:
- I want to do my physio so my leg gets better.
- I want to walk properly again.
- I want to go for more exercise… I really do, I swear.
- I want to lift that box of Heroes chocolates and throw it out the front window… responsibly, obviously.
- I want to finally figure out how to balance on one leg without looking like a flamingo in a hurricane.
- I want to stop negotiating with my ankle like it’s a stubborn toddler.
- I want to, and I will, somehow manage to get through a Christmas dinner without accidentally limping into the dessert table.
It turns out saying “I want” makes even the weirdest, tiniest steps feel like tiny victories. And somehow, the positive vibes make the whole “Week 19 hot foot and limp parade” a little more bearable — and a lot more ridiculous.
And today — the first day of Week 19 — something small but huge happened.
I took two steps… and I didn’t even realise I’d taken them.
I wasn’t staring at my feet.
I wasn’t micromanaging every movement.
They just… happened.
Week 19 take-aways:
- Small wins count – even two unnoticed steps are progress.
- Mindset matters – switch from “I have to” → “I want to.”
- Healing is messy – tissue remodelling can be inconveniently hot at bedtime.
- Patience is a superpower – progress isn’t always visible, but it’s happening.
- Humour helps – laughing at the absurdity of life on pause keeps you sane.
So here we are. Week 19. Still limping. Still hot-footed. Still occasionally grumpy.
But learning. Healing. And quietly moving forward — even when I’m not watching every step.
