How to handle Unexpected TurbulencE

What could possibly go wrong here??? Me in Meribel, France

Well, sometimes sh*t happens. 🫣

While last month was one of the best trips of my life - skiing a week in Les 3 Vallees, France (French Alps) it was also my worst - I got injured!

And, for the 1st time in my adult life, I am sidelined and in physical therapy

At first everything was going swimmingly well in les Alps!

Then, the s**t hit the fan, or rather I bit the dust - on the end of day 3 I hit the ground and smashed the back muscles of my left shoulder in a fall that I could have totally prevented. Yes, yes, too fast if you are wondering.

I consider myself fortunate and privileged that I could pick myself up, wipe my snow-covered self off, and head slooowly, gingerly down the mountain, back down below the clouds that had me socked in, to where my friends were patiently waiting for me.

It was a moment and a fall I won’t forget.

I also ask myself, “What is this trying to teach me?”

Even when things appear swimmingly well, there can be a major chink in the armor and something we don’t want to have happen, happens.

Has this happened to you? Things are going great and then you hit a BIG bump on the slopes, so to speak?

At this point I could have thrown in the towel.

Or stopped enjoying the outdoors, or skiing.

I iced my shoulder tenderly that night, had some laughs about it (at myself!) and pumped myself full of Advil for the next few days. I ended up skiing 2 more days, one with only 1 pole and the 2nd day back to 2 poles, but very slow. After all, my lower body was fine.

Here I am, 1 month later, and I’m on to PT and my path of recovery, and I’m following what I like to call my 3-step Pause Plan to get back into alignment - and I invite anyone who has a setback rightnow - injured or otherwise - to give it a try:

1) Pause - intentionally shifting my behavior and having a new go-to “mantra” so when I feel my shoulder “talking” to me I remind myself, “My body is the healer and my cells have everything they need.” I'm talking sweetly to myself, icing my shoulder, doing my exercises. Pausing to recover. Whatever happened, own it and know you can create your plan.

2) Stay Objective - when I want to have the pity party or join along with my negative critic who’s mad about the soreness, or the fact that I am unable to row until I heal, I switch gears. I ask what feeling I’m having. I ask myself, am I being objective right now? What would be more helpful?

3) Take 1 action step. This may be my physical therapy exercises, looking out the window to appreciate nature and how my shoulder has an inner intelligence, or visualizing myself back in the boat, or full extension of my shoulder. It’s happening!

Here’s to all your own self-healing that can help you be in better alignment.

When we aren’t feeling like things are going our way, recall the 3 step pause plan for better alignment. It works.

And we are all meant to feel aligned - when things get in the way of that it can be because we aren’t. In my case, I am reminded to love my body, the process of healing, and

S L O W D O W N, er Pause :D.

XO

Rachael

PS Podcast Ep. 196 talks a little bit about what happened if you want a little more play by play - out next Tuesday. Meanwhile, you can catch this week's episode here.