Lean on Me

Let’s talk about how much surgery recovery leans on a positive mindset. Look, I’m not going to get all goofy here or start spouting Brené Brown-isms, but this week I had two nights where my girl squad paid me a visit.

On Monday, Layla came over bearing mocktails and a 9:30 Club tank top, primed for an evening of watching some poor souls go overboard in the Concordia documentary. We’ve known each other for at least 25 years (but probably longer), and if you count up the orthopedic surgical procedures between the two of us, you’re easily stretching into the double digits. We know a thing or two about really f***ing up our musculoskeletal system and then having private insurance pay mad cash to fix it.

Then last night, Jane and her hubby Nathan came by for a visit, bearing those delicious toffee crunch Oreos. I’ve known them for at least 20 years and, ngl, it was so refreshing to have people IRL to talk to. I spend my weekdays working remotely, so I almost never see any of my co-workers in the flesh; especially since I’m not driving at the moment, which means no trips out the Dulles Toll Road to our fancy-schmancy ICF office.

There’s just something rejuvenating about talking and laughing with old friends. Research shows that “being around people and having strong social support significantly improves surgery recovery by reducing pain, lowering hospital stays, and decreasing anxiety.” For me, it was just something good for the soul, and it reminded me of all that I’m missing by being largely couch-bound.

I still wish I could get out and about, and I deeply miss not being able to be part of the summer running and racing community. But my goals have not changed. With each day, I’m one step closer to being back out there.

So no, I won’t hand you a mindset manifesto. But I’ll cop to this much: two nights of old friends did more for me this week than anything in my supplement lineup. The couch is temporary; the people who show up for you are not. One day closer, one friend at a time.