Gisele Bundchen is one of the world’s most beautiful women. How can a mere mortal such as myself stack up to her perfection? Um, not very well!
She is 5’11”. I am 5’6”.
She measures 34” 23” 33”. Me? 32” 30” 39”.
She has a gorgeous mane. My hair is thin and stringy.
She is very tan. I am pasty beyond belief.
She is a supermodel. I Am. Not. Even. Close.
You know what? I am OK with that and more appreciative of what I DO have than ever before.
On the day I was to leave for London to cover the Royal Wedding, I ended up in the emergency room. The next day I had my appendix taken out. I had never thought of an appendectomy as a “real” surgery. I mean, don’t lots of people have theirs taken out? No big deal, right? I thought I would be up and about in no time. I thought I might even be able to still make the trip to London.
Yeah, right. I could barely stand up and move around. Nurses had to help me get in and out of bed. Being so helpless made me mad! I am someone who is active and does some sort of exercise seven days a week, whether it be getting on my treadmill every day before work, hiking in my hilly neighborhood or taking my yoga classes. If this surgery kicked MY butt like this, I can only imagine what it would do to someone who does not exercise.
Ending up in the emergency room threw me for a loop. I was missing out on the trip of a lifetime… a chance to go to one of my favorite cities and witness history firsthand, blah, blah, blah. Wah, wah, wah.
Once I was able to hobble around the hospital hallways, I noticed all the people who were in FAR worse shape than me. That’s when I realized how lucky I am. Lucky that I did not get sick on the plane or in London. Lucky that my surgery could have been a far more serious and invasive one and lucky that my doctors rocked. Lucky that I do have wonderful family and friends to take care of me. Lucky that my body is strong and healthy and on the mend and I will get back to my normal routine soon. Some of the people in that hospital will never be the same, never get back to a “normal” routine.
So, while I might not win any beauty pageants or model searches, I’ve never felt more blessed- my body rocks!
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