This is an archived blog from when I ran Conscious Public Relations Inc. from 2008-2018. Excuse the potential outdated-ness!
More lessons from the sprained ankle
The ankle is healing nicely. While I still bandage it up and am hobbling with my cane for the additional support if I have to take transit somewhere, at home I have evolved from a hop to a sort of salsa hip shake, as I learn how to lean on the right foot again.
Not only have I learned the value of standing and walking on both feet, but these last few weeks have revealed amazing things I might have never known about my long term partner, and eventually about myself. If we recognize that which others do that we do not, there is some growing that we can do.
1) There are nice, selfless people out there.
I know this because I chose one. Even with the guilt I felt because I was unable to help move all of our things into our new home, I learned how much patience and tenacity Leo has. Moving – and arranging – on his own was never something he complained about.
2) Pick your battles.
While the prettiness of putting up artwork was priority to me and makes the difference between a house and a home, Leo was concerned with other things, like sealing and caulking that – done now – may prevent disasters later. Last week I noticed a nice camouflaged layer of water on our kitchen counter that may have been there for days without us knowing. That alerted us to deal with the leakage that may have been happening with our sink spout.
3) You can be that kind stranger.
I had fun yesterday with our video intercom, where you can see people who are at the front door when they ring the doorbell. The man at the door had questions about the open house that was happening next door, and I kindly sent him away saying that I didn’t know anything about what was going on. I was aware that he may have wanted to ask about structural things about our house (both were built simultaneously), but seeing as that I could not help him – and it would take me a good few minutes just to go down the stairs – I chose to continue making lunch.
Leo pointed out that he would have taken the time to educate the man on our house to pay it forward. It never occurred to me to help out a stranger in this particular way, but I learned a good lesson about myself.
Have you ever learned something about yourself through the actions of others?
