I hurt my left foot over the summer. For several months I was back and forth to the doctor trying different “boots” and treatments to no avail. On October 10th my doctor put me in a cast from just under my toes to right under my knees. I was told not to put weight on it and to learn to use crutches for the next 4-6 weeks.

I felt paralyzed! I was not in pain but I was completely uncomfortable. I felt like the world around me was no longer accessible. It took me several days, no honestly it took a week or two, for me to realize that I could get around, I could do most of the things I had been able to do without the cast.

I tell this story for two reasons. The first is that I now have a whole new compassion and empathy for those who are physically disabled. I don’t mean that I feel sorry for them, I just feel like I know where they are coming from now even though my “disability” was minor and hopefully temporary. They face a challenge every time they have to go up porch steps to enter a house or when they need to go grocery shopping. (I have resorted to taking my 3 sons grocery shopping with me so that I can ride around in one of those electric carts and they can help carry the bags to the car while I hop on my crutches. Before this I tried to never take the boys grocery shopping, mostly because I spend a whole lot more time and money when they are with me!)

The second reason I tell this story is because I have been impressed and surprised at people's help (or lack of help) when I am in public. Sometimes I’ll be hopping up to a door and someone will stop what they are doing to hold it open for me. At other times people will continue on with what they are doing while I try struggle to get the door open. For the most part, people have been helpful and I think that is great. The group I have been most impressed with is my co-workers. They have been so helpful and kind (only a few jokes a day!). They carry my try for me when we go out to eat, they open doors for me, and they even carry my water bottle for me when I needed to teach a class! Thanks guys.

This experience has taught me, or maybe just reminded me, that life is not just about yourself and your own struggle. Everybody is dealing with something whether you can see it or not. So lend a helping hand, open a door or just smile at someone today.

-Sara Foote