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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 Wanted to Be in the Best Shape of My Life at 60. Then I Lost My Leg.

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By The Artful Woman

 



Before my accident, I kept saying the same thing to myself:

I want to be in the best shape of my life when I turn 60.

I meant it. I was hiking, walking, going to the gym. I was building strength in my body and imagining a future where I kept getting stronger, not weaker.

Then the accident happened.

I was still 59. I turned 60 in a hospital bed.

I lost a leg. I fractured my other leg in multiple places. I broke ribs. I had vertebrae injuries. My body went into heart and kidney failure. Pain became constant, not occasional. Everything I thought I was building… was suddenly gone.

And for a long time, I couldn’t understand something:
If I was focusing on health, strength, and vitality… how did I end up here?

I used to think maybe I did something wrong. Maybe I thought wrong. Maybe I “manifested” the wrong thing.

But I’m starting to see something different now.

Life isn’t a formula where good thoughts guarantee safe outcomes. Bodies exist in a world where accidents happen, systems fail, timing collides, and life can change in a single moment.

My intention for health wasn’t a mistake. It wasn’t a cause of harm. It was love for my life.

What happened to me was tragedy — not a reflection of my mindset, not a failure of my focus, not a spiritual error.

And still… I am here.

Not the same body I once imagined, but still becoming something. Still rebuilding. Still learning what strength really means.

Because maybe “the best shape of my life” was never just about muscles or miles.

Maybe it’s about what survives you when everything else is taken away — and what you choose to do with what’s left.

My recovery journey is far from over. Between ongoing medical care, mobility challenges, and rebuilding my life after a catastrophic accident, every contribution makes a difference. If my story has touched your heart, please consider supporting my recovery through my GoFundMe and sharing it with others.


manifestation, law of attraction, trauma recovery, amputee journey, car accident survivor, resilience, healing after trauma, personal growth, mindset transformation, spiritual awakening, life after amputation, overcoming adversity, recovery journey, chronic pain, survivor story, rebuilding life, inspiration, personal development, near death experience, turning 60, strength and resilience, post-traumatic growth, Ortega Highway survivor, disability recovery, hope after tragedy

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Location: Lake Elsinore, CA, USA

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