Opinion: Still standing — and grateful
By Katherine Harrington | Director of strategic partnerships, Business Publications Corp.
There I am: Christmas Eve on my favorite ski run on Vail Mountain called “Hunky Dory.” It’s a blue run (intermediate), and this is an easy blue. Not to brag, but I am a pretty good skier. I like to work on my “form.” Being a former ballerina and a sailor, it is a perfect combination of both dancing and feeling the wind against your face.
Back to Christmas Eve, hubby Craig and son Nick are in front of me. I am taking my time enjoying the hill, scenery and the swooshing of my skis on the snow.
Then, suddenly, I am up in the air for no reason.
I never fall. It was odd. I came down hard and knew my left leg was shattered. I couldn’t really feel my right leg either. This was bad. I was done for.
Christmas Day was spent in surgery for a tibial plateau fracture — 1 percent of the breaks in the world. Of course, it has to be something exotic. I thought after the surgery we would be on our merry way, and I would be able to join the family at our favorite restaurants for the rest of our 10-day trip. Boy, was I in for a surprise.
I have lived what I would consider a perfect life and have not had to bear many of the struggles that people in the world have. So, it may come as a surprise that having a debilitating injury combined with extensive nerve damage on both of my legs changed my life — for the better.
If you know me, you know that being positive is part of my nature. I was born excited (I am thinking about putting that on a T-shirt.) There is no other way for me to look at the world. On my long road to recovery, which I am still on, I have noted a few things that I have learned help me feel better, including:
- Crying every day is a good thing. It gets the rust out of your brain and body.
- Everyone struggles and has a story to tell and a condition they are dealing with.
- Learn the story of people around you. Take a moment to ask.
- Helping someone else makes you feel 10 times better — even if it is a phone call or a note.
- Your situation is not as bad as someone else’s.
- Beauty is all around you. Focus on what you are grateful for.
- Spend about 5 minutes feeling sorry for yourself and then stop it.
- Focus on what makes you feel empowered and fulfilled.
- When people reach out to help, take them up on it.
- Take charge and do what it takes to feel better.
- Hug often and don’t hesitate to say “I love you.”
- Remember, as my 88-year-old dad says, “This too shall pass.”
I am one of the lucky ones. I have someone in my life who I care deeply about and who was tirelessly there for me. Thank you, Craig Walter. This injury may have broken me, but I am stronger and more compassionate than ever before. I may have found the true meaning of life. Family, relationships and people are what matter most in this crazy world.
Will I ski again? Not sure. Ask me in another six months and I might say yes. We only go around once and if I break my leg again, I might learn even more.
Katherine Harrington is director of strategic partnerships with Business Publications Corp. She is a 30-year veteran in media and a former ballerina with career moves that included US Magazine, Crain’s Chicago Business, San Diego Business Journal, and her startup, The T Sector San Diego. Ballet adventures included the San Francisco Ballet and Alvin Ailey, and she was a past board president of Ballet Des Moines. She is also former board chair for Iowa Governor’s Central Iowa STEM. Katherine is the mother of three talented kids and the partner of Craig Walter, the people from whom she derives most of her positive inspiration.
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