There really is no truer statement than “you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.” This goes for everything: people, places, food, weather, the list goes on and on.
My most profound appreciation of this phrase usually has to do with my health. I broke my collarbone back in grade school, had a bout with dry skin, even a pimple can make you appreciate the days when you were pimple-less. My most valued recuperated body part is my Achilles. I had tendonitis in it a couple years ago and I could barely flex my foot, walk, or do anything that my job (basketball) required. It made me sad, impatient (okay, MORE impatient), and frustrated. When it finally went away (acupuncture did the trick), I was so happy. But even now, as I am reminiscing on those rough couple months I can’t summon up a sufficient amount of appreciation for my Achilles. Why? We pray to our higher power: “If you give me what I want, I will forever be grateful.” But “forever” usually only lasts a few weeks at best.
So dear Achilles, if you can hear me, thank you so much for staying healthy. Walking, jumping, running, and so many other things are very important to me and I couldn’t do them without you…. That doesn’t sound very heartfelt does it? But I promise I don’t need to be reminded how much it means to me. I’m hoping my continued use and care (stretching) for it is enough doting.
And, no, I am not writing this because I’m any different than you or any more intuitive. No. It’s because, my healthy lips are gone!
Every time I come to Germany I start to get a redness on the corners of my lips. It’s not anything crazy, usually it comes and goes, and usually it isn’t very noticeable. Usually. This time around it is angry.
I normally attribute it to the change of place, lifestyle, climate, what have you, and I don’t stress about it. I have been lucky enough to be of good health my whole life and maybe this is just a reminder. Maybe it can only be explained by my under appreciation of my lips, I must have taken them for granted.
Well, not anymore! I couldn’t even write the blog I had planned for today because my lips are the only thing on my mind. It just makes me wonder– how can we really appreciate something, really know and love its value while we have it? Can we?
I just want my normal, thin, smooth, dead-skin-less lips back. And God? I promise I will love them everyday if only I can have them back. I promise to try.
