KNOCKED OUT

I was in a near-fatal accident in my late teens. I didn’t see the white light or anything, but
it was pretty bad. My lifelong dream at the time was to be a ballerina. I had been studying
intensely for many years. After multiple skull fractures and a damaged inner ear, my
doctors told me the accident was the end of that dream.

After multiple surgeries and the green light from my neurologist, I went back to taking
classes. What did I have to lose? I remember standing at the ballet barre. I can only
imagine what a hot mess I looked like. I had facial paralysis and stitches down the right side
of my head. The teacher walked over to me, looked me in the eyes for a moment, kissed my
forehead, and continued with class.

I don’t remember how well I danced in those early recovery days. I didn’t fall or crash
into anyone that I am aware of. Maybe it was fantastic. Who knows?
I obtained a BA in Dance from a small university and had an incredible 20-year teaching
career. I was no Misty Copeland, but I had a good run.

Looking back, I believe this was possible because I went right back to dancing. I didn’t wait
until I looked like myself again. I retrained my body to dance as I healed. The more I danced,
the more I adjusted to my “new normal.”

I used that same tenacity to get control of my IBS. If I could dance after head trauma, I
was confident I could stop my suffering.

Was there a time in your life when someone told you your dreams were impossible, and you
went for it anyway?