It’s been 7 weeks today since my hip replacement surgery and I have to say I’m feeling great. Overall the time has passed quickly and I’ve had amazing support from family, friends and medical professionals – all of whom contributed to my speedy recovery and helped me keep my attitude positive and hopeful, despite the obvious restrictions and incapacity I faced for a while. 99% of the time I managed my feelings around the daily “ups and downs” with prayer, affirmations and picturing myself walking pain-free. All would be worth it soon I constantly told myself …..

True confessions!  Around week 3, I had one of THOSE days! A time where I was heading for a full-blown “pity party”! Or was it a melt-down? What? Me? Anthea Tripp…..the strong, happy-go-lucky, nothing-gets-her-down woman? You know, the one that appears to always be upbeat and in control, the one who lives a charmed life and is happy no matter what!! Hmmmmmm!  Yes THAT one!!

It’s amazing the impressions we leave with others isn’t it? I’ve actually had people tell me I’m lucky to have the life I have because I never have any ups and downs, there’s no family drama, no business challenges and every morning I wake up full of positive energy to take on the day! Seriously? OMG! And yes elephants DO fly!!! LOL! I’m chuckling at THAT one!

Outward appearances don’t always reveal what’s going on internally. It wouldn’t be fair for me to let you think I’m always super-positive, so I’m going to be authentic in this post – truthful – and share that my attitude isn’t always UP!! And the 99% of the time I am “up” it’s NOT because I’m lucky, or naturally charmed in some way! It’s rather because I work on my attitude. I HAVE to because I recognize there are times when I’m down, defeated, challenged, sad, frustrated, angry or feeling some other “negative” emotion.  Really?  Yes really!!!  

Because I know this about human nature and myself, I work intentionally and consistently on my attitude – daily! I say affirmations, I pray, I talk to myself inside my head and prepare myself for the day. There will be challenges and setbacks perhaps, but the key is not in the outside factors that life inevitably throws at us, but how we accept and respond to them that matters. It’s how we deal internally with the side-swipes of life that determines who we are outwardly. 

Let’s talk about the last “pity party” I hosted for myself .. and the lesson in it! About 3 weeks after my surgery, there was one day when I simply felt down in the dumps! I had a whole bunch of “poor-me’s” stored up and they were dragging me into a dark pit.  Irrational fears invaded my mind – and inner voices whispered naughty little “untruths”- ones that I almost began to “believe”! Thoughts and doubts like …………..

“It’s taking too long to get my energy back!”
{Untrue! Patience Anthea – its ONLY 3 weeks after major surgery}
“I just exchanged one type of pain for another”
{Untrue! Really? Muscle aches are no match for PAIN}
“My progress is too slow”
{Untrue!  Expectation unrealistic – get real Anthea}
“Will I ever be able to walk around the block again?”
{Ugh!  Dumb question! Of course you will!}
“What if my folks have an emergency and I can’t travel?”
{Irrational fear! Faith Anthea – faith!}
“Ugh – these compression hose are so uncomfortable!”
{So what? It’s only temporary! Get a grip!}
“Dang – how many more days of blood thinner shots left?
{STOP it drama queen! You know the exact number}
“What if I get a blood clot?”
{Duh! That’s why you’re wearing compression hose and doing blood thinners!}

Do you see what I was doing? I was whipping myself up into melt-down mode using irrational fears and negative self-talk. I was on the verge of tears. So I retreated to the comfort of my bed for respite {and to wallow in some poor-me tears!} But not for long! 3 minutes maybe …. because I suddenly remembered the Lovenox jab was due! UGH! The bane of my existence for 20 days!! The dreaded blood thinner injection. The one I pricked into my belly fat! Yes – the one that ruled my thoughts for 30 minutes while I mustered the courage to complete a 30-second shot. Seriously Anthea – you are such a whimp!! Deal with it. Get a grip! Get up and do it! Get it over with NOW!  You just had major surgery and survived. You gave birth to THREE babies. You GOT this!

We both laughed …. loudly! There is humor in circumstances even though sometimes you must dig deep! Goodbye to the “poor-me’s” and the end of what could have been a pitiful pity party!

Lesson learned:  Laughter chases away the blues. Always look for the humor in the circumstances {as a friend says: look for the pony in the crap!} Stop short of one “poor-me” and thwart a full-blown pity party!