Category: writerwednesday

Back In The Game

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Life activated me from the 33-day injured list (IL), and I’m back on the roster!

I took a BREAK from posting, pun intended, because I followed my doctor’s orders that I should not use a computer. As of yesterday, I am no longer banished from keyboards and can share what happened:

I fell flat on my face and went down hard before I even knew what was happening.

It’s as simple as that.

I must have instinctively brought my arms in front of my face to brace myself, and the nearest I can figure, both of my elbows and my left knee hit the floor, followed by my whole body hitting the ground.

I laid there for a few minutes in shock, unable to move or call for help because the jolt knocked the wind out of me. Eventually, I mustered the ability to flip myself from my stomach to sit, then a coworker came upon me in the middle of the hallway floor, dazed and confused. 

My knee was fine, but I ended up with two fractured elbows and in a crap ton of pain.   

The first ten days were the worst. Every muscle in my body hurt from the fall’s blow, and the pain in my arms throbbed while radiating like electricity up and down from my fingertips through my shoulders.

The good news is that I did not require hard casts or surgery.

Rather, I sported two stylish slings, the likes of which might make Michael Kors drool with envy, and a fancy, black brace on my right wrist. The wrist brace kept me from straining the right elbow, which had the worse of the two fractures.

I’m thankful each fracture is healing on its own, seemingly without any long-term mobility issues or spurring any sort of Lupus flares. I’ve been cleared to return to work and to normal activities, and I’ll follow my orthopedist’s advice that while movement will help the healing process, I should take care to not overdo it.

During recovery, I kept a mental list of all the things I was grateful for the ability to do that I formerly took for granted (click here to read that list).

I also realized that while I now may be labeled a fall risk, life is for living, not for sitting around. 

Life can surely change in an instant, but I’ll take the risks in living, and in falling.

Ironically, while healing, I heard Buddy Guy’s new song titled “Blues Don’t Lie” from his new album with the same name. The song begins: “Life is gonna happen whether you’re ready or not…”

Ain’t that the truth.

Life never waits for me to be ready. It pitches at me constantly, sometimes with direct hits, other times with near misses. 

So, why should I wait to live it, since it’s throwing at me, anyway? 

I will rise when I fall.

I will survive when I fear.

I will smile when I cry.

I will remember with love when I grieve.

I will learn and improve when I falter or fail, and celebrate both the lessons and the successes.

And throughout it all, I will shine my light in hopes of sparking the light in others.

Life is short, and I have nothing to fear.

It’s go time, and I’m back at home plate, ready to swing.

Batter up!

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you’re here.

With light and gratitude,

Jill

“Back In The Game” was posted on jillocone.com on February 8, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.

2023 #WriterWednesday Week 01: ME in ‘23

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Welcome, 2023! I’ve set the intention to follow the example set by some of my favorite writers by honoring their tradition of #WriterWednesday and posting each Wednesday during 2023, and today marks my first post. 

In setting this intention, I am also allowing myself grace and forgiveness if I miss a week.

My word for 2023 is ME. 

Sorry, not sorry if that comes across as brazenly selfish, but as someone who typically puts the needs of others before mine, it is time for me to focus on MY social, emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Prioritizing my needs does not mean I am abandoning my core values of compassion, empathy, and kindness, nor do I plan to shirk my responsibilities.

I want to feel alive and energized instead of drained and depleted. 

Moving forward, when I face a task or a request that causes any sort of dismay in my soul or in my heart, my answer will be NO.

No, thank you. My needs come first. 

ME in ‘23.

In early December, I received a request from a small publisher for my completed novel’s manuscript with a deadline of January 1. I toiled all month, formatting it as they requested and ensuring it is the best it can be. At 10:12 am on December 29, 2022, with my heart full of love, light and hope, I emailed my full “Chapter One-A Novel” manuscript to the editor. I am manifesting positivity and goodness as I believe wholeheartedly the editor will select it for  publication. 

ME in ‘23.

My spring Jersey Shore Magazine assignments always accompany January’s arrival, so in between writing at least 150-words each morning for either posts or my next novel (tentatively titled “John Doe”), I intend to make progress each day towards those assignments. 

ME in ‘23.

After four years of living in limbo while also living through a pandemic, 2023’s arrival also heralded in a new chapter for my husband and I as we spent our first night at our old address in our new home as the calendar flipped its page. In “Avengers: Endgame,” Tony Stark said, “Part of the journey is the end,” and leaving our temporary place filled me with emotions I did not expect. I will take the comfort and the lessons that fueled my strength along the long and winding course to this moment and fill our new home with love and laughter while continuing to emulate my uncle’s example of being a good person. I am especially looking forward to celebrating life, especially my birthday next month, in our new home and surrounded by the people I love.

ME in ‘23.

I want to spend more time in nature this year, take more walks, see more sunsets and new places, and laugh alongside those I cherish more this year. And come the end of December, when I look back on 2023, I know I will say, “Man, this has been a great year.”

ME in ‘23.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m glad you’re here.

With light and gratitude,

Jill

“2023 #WriterWednesday Week 01: ME in ‘23” was posted on jillocone.com on January 4, 2023. Views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the writer, who was not endorsed or compensated in any manner by any entity; views do not represent any of my employers. Copyright 2023, Jill Ocone. All rights reserved. Contact jillocone@gmail.com with reposting, licensing, and publishing inquiries.