Don't be discouraged by baby steps. I'm running into neighbours these days who are amazed to see me out walking and looking healthy and much stronger. People I don't really know, other than a casual wave are stopping to chat. They want to know how I did it. My only real answer is baby steps.
I know many people, myself included, who try to do something and become so discouraged after only one try that they stop. I've been there. It hardly seemed worth it in the beginning to go get my shoes on, get ready to go out to only walk to the end of the driveway, cross the street and walk past two houses turn around and come home. Yes, I felt frustrated and dependent because at first, someone had to come with me and my walker, but I did it.
I think I could have easily said I can't. I'm not sure I would have gotten much flank because I really had to push it to do very small walks. The difference was I knew if I didn't I was settling for what I had, and that was very little mobility. It wasn't an option. Not if there was a shred of chance that I could make it better in some way. So I tried, then I tried a little more each day. I knew I couldn't let myself off the hook, this was far too important. I've had many times in my life when I have taken the easy way, given in to laziness, ate too much of the wrong foods, indulged too much; this couldn't be one of those times. This was a time to step up and do the right thing, not the easy thing. When I think of those very cold winter mornings when I got up put on a bating suit and headed to Physio I can feel proud. It accomplished a lot. So that is how I did it. Baby steps, and holding myself accountable
I know many people, myself included, who try to do something and become so discouraged after only one try that they stop. I've been there. It hardly seemed worth it in the beginning to go get my shoes on, get ready to go out to only walk to the end of the driveway, cross the street and walk past two houses turn around and come home. Yes, I felt frustrated and dependent because at first, someone had to come with me and my walker, but I did it.
I think I could have easily said I can't. I'm not sure I would have gotten much flank because I really had to push it to do very small walks. The difference was I knew if I didn't I was settling for what I had, and that was very little mobility. It wasn't an option. Not if there was a shred of chance that I could make it better in some way. So I tried, then I tried a little more each day. I knew I couldn't let myself off the hook, this was far too important. I've had many times in my life when I have taken the easy way, given in to laziness, ate too much of the wrong foods, indulged too much; this couldn't be one of those times. This was a time to step up and do the right thing, not the easy thing. When I think of those very cold winter mornings when I got up put on a bating suit and headed to Physio I can feel proud. It accomplished a lot. So that is how I did it. Baby steps, and holding myself accountable
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