A Journey of Resilience: The Hopeful Hippie's Story

The Beginning of a Transformation

I would like to tell you a little story. Once upon a time, there was a young “ish” feeling Hopeful Hippie. At the time, she had undergone six hip surgeries. Each surgery came with long and challenging recoveries.

In her work orbit, there was someone who made this Hopeful Hippie feel less than. “How’s my surgery girl?” In just four words, this Hopeful Hippie was put into a box. She became the sum of her hip surgeries. So much so that the 7th and 8th surgeries were top secret. She felt embarrassed to tell anyone again, fearing she would be minimized as a “surgery girl.” Working from home allowed her to keep it covert. It felt like a top-secret mission.

Breaking Free from Limitations

In contrast, you, Saint Nick and Saint Frank, helped her break out of that box. You expected her to do crazy things. Who would have thought she could walk off a box without breaking a hip? (Knock on wood!) She wanted to do it again and again. Initially, she was terrified, recalling the one time she parasailed at 500 feet. The mere 20 inches you asked her to walk off felt like a stomach-churning, anxiety-producing experience. She feared a broken pelvis, ankle, or even a broken face. The thought of it shattered her ego, which felt fragile with all the 60 bones in her lower extremities.

But here’s the thing: your words built her up. You made her believe she could do hard things.

You can.

We believe in you.

You will.

You must.

Discovering Inner Strength

Even when she was worked to exhaustion, sweating onto your mats, she began to see herself as resilient, strong, and stubborn. Rehab for her 10th hip surgery with you provided telling clues about your character. You were incredibly patient with this hip patient. More importantly, you were all-around saints. You encouraged, cajoled, praised, and believed in her. Your kindness shone through. Patience is your virtue! You put up with her and helped her grow into someone considering her next challenge. This challenge could be a hike in Peru, Banff, the Dolomites, or even a tandem base jump in Moab, which is much higher than 2 feet.

The Power of Words

So, the moral of this story is that words can make or break a person’s spirit. The Hopeful Hippie's spirit is soaring because of you.

With that being said, she remains a Hopeful Hippie. Think peace and love. She is not the sum of her hips. Instead, she embodies strength, hope, and belief. You helped her add those three words into something that makes her far more than a “surgery girl.” She is who she is meant to be, and thank you for unleashing that spirit.

Happy Endings Through Struggles

There are happy endings through struggles. This is not the end of this story, but thank you for being part of this chapter.

In conclusion, the journey of the Hopeful Hippie illustrates the transformative power of encouragement and belief. Your unwavering support has not only helped her overcome physical challenges but has also empowered her to embrace life with renewed vigor.

Together, let’s continue to inspire others to break free from their limitations and discover their true potential.