First month post ACL surgery

I feel like I've progressed so little yet so much since I had my knee reconstruction and was fitted with a brand new ACL one month ago. Since I'm going back to work on Monday, it seems like the perfect time to list what I've learnt and how one might expect to progress after having their bones drilled into, a tendon cut from their hammy and inserted into their knee, held together with small screws and the hopes of a girl dreaming to play netball again (dramatic, I know).

Highlight Reel

I've been trying to squeeze in a lot of socialisation before surgery and sloth rehab time begins so life has been a little crazy lately. Here are some photos that capture a few of my favourite moments from the last couple of weeks. 

Long weekend in Busselton 

Beer pong, beanies, slizzard bitches and boulderdash. 

A birthday, an injury and a relay

It has been just over a week since my birthday and what a topsy turvy week it has been! I woke up on the morning of my 24th with an injured knee and some beautiful birthday messages rolling in. In the days since, I have had high moments, none involving painkillers, I promise, and some low ones, specifically when I was told I had ruptured my ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and would need a knee reconstruction. 

My birthday was still great as I spent most of the day lying on the couch with an ice pack on my knee and lovely friends bringing me coffee, food, beautiful cards and hard drives filled with hilarious shows (watch The IT Crowd - don't ask questions, just do it). 

Snapchat from Teleisha and one of her boiz!

How to cope with anxiety

The twist and turns of life are mostly breathtaking and sometimes cruel. You may think you are on the road to having it all figured out when out of nowhere, you're blindsided by something you thought was in your control.

This year, my resolution was to be more mindful - to live in the moment and take each day anew. I started out okay but the last few months have proven to be the most challenging of my life and I have been feeling more anxious than ever. Anxiety is basically the opposite of mindfulness and rears it's ugly head in the form of constant over thinking, stressing and worrying over the daily grind to every possible future outcome. It's exhausting, but at the same time it's manageable. In the hope that this can be a comfort to other people going through similar problems, or even just having a bad day, I've listed a few things below that help me remain mindful and reduce my anxiety.

Just what the doctor ordered

I had the most relaxing Easter long weekend. I switched off my phone, which was damn hard in itself, and headed up to my parents place in Carnamah, a teeny tiny town three and a half hours out of Perth. My alleged 'smart' phone doesn't have service there so I used the time to regroup and just be with some of the craziest, best people I know.