Learning how to do just about everything with only one hand.

Cooking, sewing, typing, dishes, laundry, eating... these are a few of the things I've had to re-learn as a mom because now I have to do them (and do them well) with only one hand. Needless to say my house is a mess, my spell-check is very confused, the dog hasn't been washed in a week and my family has been eating either burnt or under cooked food. It seems like the only thing I get to do with two hands is change dirty diapers!

Yesterday though, I discovered that since I have--at least temporarily--lost the use of one of my hands, my body has compensated. My feet have become particularly useful and agile. No longer are they only used for walking, no sir, they can unlock and open doors, pick up virtually anything I drop and even type on my laptop! If I were a little more flexible, I'm convinced I could really do anything with my feet, even brush my hair, it's like I'm turning into a monkey! Maybe I should get really crazy and learn how to knit with my toes or something. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up getting my own TLC show! Ha. 

But seriously though, I think it's a great example of how incredible the human body really is. Humans adapt, no matter what. It's like when someone goes blind and their hearing or sense of smell kick in and make up the difference. I am amazed every day by people doing things they never thought they could do. I never thought I'd be able to pen a grocery list with my left hand, let alone my foot, but I did it! All while bouncing a very fussy baby. And if I can do that with only a month's practice, I can do anything. So I guess the message to anyone who actually reads this is: don't think for one second that you're a failure because of something you can't do as well as the next person. Look at the little things--even if they seem insignificant or silly--and celebrate every little victory. Do a little dance when you change the TV channel with your big toe. Put a smile on your face when you manage to do the dishes while holding a crying/sleeping/squirmy baby, and entertaining an 8-year-old without breaking anything. Count your little victories instead of focusing only on your shortcomings and I can promise you that you will have more victories.

Never give up, never surrender. Take the bull by the horns and never forget that every day prepares you for the next. Thanks for reading.

Go ahead, brag. Leave a comment about your little victories. What have you done lately that you never thought you could do?