Step 1. Walk

I am bolder now about crossing the street. Since parting ways with my crutches, I can fool people into thinking I am an able-bodied person and they stop, not realizing how long it will take me to cross.

I cross from the Giant to the hand-capped spaces at Franklin farm. I have been unsuccessful in my mission to find acceptable guacamole for our burritos, so I am carrying nothing but my purse (yes, no longer the backpack that has been my knapsack for the last 8 weeks) and myself. Out of habit (?) I, mid-street, pull my bag off my shoulder to look for the car keys I will need. I attempt to continue to walk, but this doesn’t work so well. I re-shoulder the bag realizing it will be much safer to look once I get to the car …no, realizing I can’t walk and look at the same time.

And this is my plight.

The old joke of the spaz who can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. Walking takes all my attention. And once I get to the car, finding my car keys is simple. Why rush? Something about re-joining the pace of life sends me off to trying 2 things at once. Is it really any quicker to walk and look than to walk first, look next? How much time do I really save?

What other things do I put on auto-pilot so I can multi-task?

• driving
• talking to the kids
• friends
• self-care

Is it worth it? Are they? Am I?

I have written a sticky note to myself. It is a prayer of sorts:

“God, what one thing am I supposed to be doing right now?”

It requires me to trust that He’ll provide time later for the rest of what He intends me to do.