Fear less. Float more. Steer less.
I initially saw this quote on a colleague’s email signature line and it really got my attention. These were all statements that I needed to work on, and I knew it. I was also recently encouraged to watch a new Disney short movie called Float. And, oh my gosh, I had the silliest (and I mean the silliest) grin on my face. The kind of grin that you would have when you spy that incredibly cute puppy jumping all over itself for some attention. Or the kind of ridiculous grin when you catch your three-year-old drawing on the wall and, with the cutest expression when caught, says, “Look what I drew for you, mommy!” That kind of grin…get it?
Anyways, so, yes, this hip journey for all is full of fear and devoid of any floating type of sensation. In fact, most patients are weighed down by pain, worry and sometimes braces and crutches. The definite opposite of floating. And if you’re like me, you want to steer the entire course – point A to point Z.
But this movie, Float, talks about a little boy who can float and has this amazing ability to not be held down by gravity. He is able to soar through the air seeing a different perspective than most toddlers. He is different. But the problem is that his dad sees the reactions of others and sees him through their eyes. The dad sees this gift as a burden. Dad and son are unhappy. They are isolated. They are weighed down. Their course is dictated by outside circumstances, yes, but more importantly, they are weighed down by an internal turmoil.
At the end of the story, there is acceptance which equates to happiness. The little boy is comfortable in his own skin. He is who he is. There is no judgment. There is no worry. His course is dictated, not by his dad’s self-imposed angst, but rather hope.
Whether you are new to this hip journey or have been around the proverbial block a time or two, there is a lesson to be learned. Is it that you have realized that you are stronger than you ever thought possible? Or is it that, through this process, you have developed more empathy and compassion for others? Is it that you have learned to make lemonade from lemons?
And what if you find that you cannot yet see any lessons that could possibly be learned from this journey? Perhaps you can focus on seeing things from a different perspective so you can find acceptance of this journey you have been assigned to travel. Trust your body. Trust yourself. Trust your team. With that trust, you will be able to fear less, steer less and float into a cloud of hip hope.