Neuropathy Showdown - a weekend update...

Well, I did it.

I finally placed the order I have been dreading and putting off for weeks.....

I ordered my walking sticks.

It's been a really tough deal for me to come to the realization that for the next while and perhaps even for longer, walking sticks will need to be a part of my life. The only good part of it all has been the big new goal I have set for myself but I will get to that part later on... It was an easy decision actually, between continuing on with the walker or graduating to walking sticks which help me stand straighter, walk sturdier aaand will offer me far more freedom in getting out on my own. See, my troubles are when standing and walking, but when sitting, my legs and feet are able which means I am capable of driving,  I just can't manage getting the heavy walker in and out of the vehicle on my own without great risk of a fall... but with walking sticks I might actually start getting out a little bit again. Even if I'm not driving it will be easier for anyone I am out with so they don't have to lift the walker in and out of their vehicle, never mind all the space it takes up. Independence is a pretty big deal for me these days and that is really what made me finally take the walking sticks plunge.

So, where does one begin a search for walking sticks? The World Wide Web, of course! I found a few different looks but I was, of course, not wanting to let myself find anything positive in any of them. I had a very baaaaad attidtuuuuude for a few days... I'm not proud of the attitude or of the frustrated tears but I am proud to have made my way through to being okay once again.

There were a few different styles I found available.....



We stopped at the store I had bought the walker from and actually
tried a pair of these but they were creaky and the experience was just as awful as my visit there
to pick up the walker... I think I need to open a new store that will actually help people
feel empowered instead of less-than when needing this kind of help. ;)

These ones were pretty for anyone who likes to 'stand-out' but they still looked
not quite sturdy enough for my sporty demanding needs.

This style is certainly more 'sporty' looking but for me they just seemed
a little bulky and stand-outy. Super cool looking, though!

Now, these were ALL great options... for crutches. But I don't want crutches. And I am NOT saying that crutches are bad or unlikeable, I'm just saying that these were not the right choices for me. I admit I was becoming more than just a little discouraged and more than once I said, "It's fine, I don't need them, I'll just stay hidden at home with the dumb walker and go for rides and wait in the car to get some fresh air..." but even saying it, I knew I was wrong and that I deserve more out of life than taking the easy road into hiding again. So I kept searching. And I stumbled across SideStix.....

Way more my style are these simple SideStix! They look as sleek as they
do sturdy and they hopefully won't stand out too terribly much... I think I found
my walking sticks match with these awesome 'lil helpers!

Once having found my way to the SideStix site, I was immediately taken with the low-key and surprisingly sporty look to the stix. The pictures on the site of people on hiking and mountaineering adventures told me that I was in the right spot and I suddenly felt just the slightest pangs of excitement, of looking forward with hope begin to creep in and cover up all of my newly set-in fears and worries of this new walking aid plan. The look was sleek and from everything I researched these walking stix were made to go far and help people live adventures in exploring even the most rugged of the outdoors. I knew I had met my match but it still wasn't easy to make myself place the actual order.

So, for the past few weeks I have poured over (daily) all the information I could find both on the website and through user reviews and I knew afterward just as I'd known before, that these stix are for me. The biggest clue that these were the walking sticks I needed was a simple little quote on the SideStix website that read "In fact, we defy you to call them crutches!" Like I said... PERFECT ...because I won't be calling them crutches (as anyone keeping up with this blog will already know).

Because the SideStix are made to order I needed some help with measuring for fit so Enz helped with that part and once ready with the measurements I sat down to order... only I didn't. Instead, I headed outside to the outdoor screened room with my boys and a notebook and after tucking them into their beds for a nap, I sat down at the table to do what I always do when making decisions; a handwritten Pro/Con list between all the styles of my walking sticks choice...

Day all tucked in for his nap...

Play all, well... roached up crazily for his nap.....

And me... well, I just love making lists a little tooooo much!

Did I really need to make a list? No. I knew. But it helped settle me and that mattered, too.

Ultimately, my decision came to the SideStix and I truly hope that they will help me through the rest of my healing with not only functionability but also in again finding some independence and adventure. I miss hiking and exploring.

Which brings me to my latest goal, the one I mentioned earlier...

I have decided that I want to celebrate my hard work in healing with a sweet holiday filled with walking and exploring. I have always wanted to visit England, Scotland and Ireland, to feel what it's like to be in the presence of sooooo much history. I want to explore the rugged lands, the castles both standing and rubbled, the great mysteries still waiting to be unlocked and so much more..... So my plan is to work really, REALLY hard throughout this next year in building my body up to being strong and able enough to handle this incredible trip I have started dreaming up. I've seen and lived how much I've already accomplished in only four months of my time in the Neuro Day Program so I know, without doubt, that with continued hard work this new goal will be met and I will trek my way through the wonders that await... even if the walking sticks are to remain a part of me.

I've never been to the UK and I am planning an Autumn visit when the weather will be a little cooler for easier trekking so I am open for suggestions from those of you who have been... Please share the sights and places you may have visited in your own travels! Where did you go that left you feeling most inspired??