Routine Rut

Has your life been feeling like Groundhog Day lately? Every day, just like the last, as if you are living in a simulation. For many of us living with a disability, routine is the prescription for a healthy lifestyle. Take your meds at the same time every day, clean your prosthetic liner each evening (hang to dry), charge your microprocessor leg at bedtime, and always remember to visit the prosthetist regularly for tune-ups. It all feels so familiar at this point. Maybe a little too familiar. Routine can be nice, it can be comforting to know what comes next, but it can also be really boring.

Sure, I'm grateful that my life is no longer full of life-threatening unknowns and harsh operating room lighting. Still, sometimes the routines associated with my disability get the best of me, and annoyance turns to frustration. On those days, I try to power through the steps, knowing that once I'm done, I get to forget for a few hours all the effort it takes to be me. I try to focus on how good it feels to get out of the house, spend time with friends, and walk upright. All blessings that are made possible by my routines.

It's fun to shake things up, try new foods, visit new cities, dye your hair a different shade for the Fall, and do the things that make you feel alive. But I can't maintain my residual limb infection free without cleaning my liner properly. If I don't take my medication each evening, the brain zaps and withdrawal symptoms will keep me in bed all day. And if I forget to charge my prosthetic leg, it will just be a heavy hunk of metal for me to painfully drag around. It's the realization that all the steps in my routine give me the tools to live the way I want to that keeps me diligent.

I used to sling my liner across the room at night and leave my leg in random corners with no outlets before bed. I would forget to take my meds for days at a time, perhaps unconsciously rebelling against my disability and everything that comes with it. Over time, I've learned to associate these tasks with freedom. I have more independence because of my routine. I am healthy because of my routine. I am more responsible because of my routine. I am blessed because of my routine.

My words of wisdom; Count your blessings, don't skip any steps, and above all, ALWAYS charge the battery on your robot leg at night.