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There Is Still Plenty of Life to Live

By The Artful Woman
Lately, it has been hot, so I decided to do something that would make life a little easier. I cooked a bunch of different meals in the crock pot, put them into containers, and froze them. That way, when the weather is hot, I wouldn't have to do much cooking. Then a flyer came in from the local Mexican market. They had pineapples, plantains, mangoes, watermelon, cucumbers—fresh fruits and vegetables at really good prices. They also had beef shanks. So after the gym, I had my caretaker take me to the store. I already had plenty of food at home. I had meals in the freezer, food in the refrigerator, and everything I needed. I wasn't going to the store because I was running out of food. But when I got there, something happened. I felt happy. The store was colorful and full of fresh food. I could choose one of this, two of that, three of something else. I wasn't limited to whatever quantity happened to come in a package. I could actually look at what I wanted and decide what I wa...
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I Don't Know My Purpose Yet, and That's Okay

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By The Artful Woman


I Don't Know My Purpose Yet, and That's Okay

For months, my only job was to survive.

Survive the surgeries. Survive the pain. Survive learning how to live in a body that no longer looked or functioned the way it once did. There wasn't much room for anything else.

But lately, something has changed.

For the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm getting my mind back. I'm reading again. Taking courses. Asking questions. Thinking deeply. Exploring ideas that once seemed out of reach because all my energy was spent simply making it through another day.

And one question keeps coming back to me:

Given that this happened, what do I want to become because of it?

I'm not looking for a perfect answer.

I'm not trying to convince myself that losing my leg was somehow easy or that all suffering has a neat explanation. My body still hurts every day. I have broken bones held together with metal. My scars ache. Recovery is exhausting.

But I refuse to let my mind rot or my spirit drift into darkness.

So instead of asking, "Why did this happen to me?" I'm asking, "What is this experience trying to teach me? What can I learn from it? Who might I become because of it?"

The truth is, I don't know.

And I'm finally okay with not knowing.

Right now, I'm not making decisions. I'm exploring.

One day I'm reading about neuroscience. Another day I'm learning about hypnosis. I've studied NLP, Reiki, coaching, and other healing modalities over the years. Some of it may simply become knowledge that enriches my own life. Some of it may become something bigger.

Lately, hypnosis keeps showing up.

Does that mean it's my calling?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

I don't feel any pressure to decide today.

Instead, I'm opening little doors every day and peeking inside. I'm opening windows to possibilities and paying attention to which ones let in the most light. I'm trusting that what truly belongs in my life will continue to call me back.

Perhaps purpose isn't something we find.

Perhaps it's something that gradually forms as we keep showing up.

So for now, my commitment isn't to a career or a title.

My commitment is to curiosity.

To writing.

To sorting through my thoughts.

To trying things.

To staying open.

Maybe one day I'll look back and realize this accident redirected my entire life toward something I couldn't have imagined.

Or maybe I'll simply become a more compassionate, wiser version of myself because of it.

Either way, I don't need to force the answer.

I just need to keep taking the next step, opening the next door, asking the next question, and trusting that when my calling appears, I'll recognize it.

Until then, this journey itself is enough.

My journey didn't end when I survived the accident—it began. Every day is filled with healing, pain, rehabilitation, and the search for a new purpose. If my story has touched you and you'd like to help me continue rebuilding my life after losing my leg and enduring multiple traumatic injuries, please consider supporting my GoFundMe. Every donation, share, and kind word helps me keep moving forward toward recovery and a future filled with possibility.


finding purpose after trauma, life after amputation, amputee recovery, personal growth after tragedy, healing journey, catastrophic car accident survivor, resilience, overcoming adversity, finding meaning in suffering, post-traumatic growth, rebuilding life after trauma, chronic pain journey, recovery mindset, spiritual growth, self-discovery, hypnosis exploration, NLP, healing after loss, disability awareness, trauma recovery, hope after tragedy, personal transformation, recovery blog, inspirational journey, surviving and thriving, life lessons, searching for purpose, growth through adversity, amputee life, mindset shift


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Location: Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

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