Lately Sofia has been very curious about Daddy’s feet. She knows that — like my hands — they look “different” from hers.
Thanks to my collapsed arches, my feet point outward and my toes overlap. My bunions are at almost 90-degree angles. The damage and deformities in my feet look very similar to my hands. Some of the joints are bent backwards — for me, a short walk feels like making a fist and walking on your knuckles for miles. My toes are frequently calloused and sore.
To be honest, it can be painful to wear shoes, let alone stand up — but ironically, I can’t stand on hard floors without them. Strangely enough, standing barefoot on soft carpet or even in the grass feels AMAZING! (Walking in the sand on the beach feels pretty good, too…)
Sofia knows that Daddy’s feet didn’t always look this way. I covered a lot of miles with my “old feet,” before they changed. Now, I just appreciate each step a little more.
No matter what you’re facing, every little step counts. Look at all of the steps you’ve taken to get to where you are right now! Some strides might be longer than others. Maybe you’ve even had to tip-toe a few times… The point is, you’re still moving forward.
I’ve got a lot of road still to travel with my “special feet” — I look forward to celebrating every step along the way. You should, too. 👣
#PSNeverGiveUp
#petescalia #RAwarrior #rheumatoidarthritis #arthritisawareness #arthritisfoundation #nevergiveup #motivation #resilience #fortitude #perseverance #inspiration #keepmoving
