Hello, dear global family! How honored and amazed I was to see SO INCREDIBLY MANY birthday wishes! Wow! Thank you, thank you! You all are absolutely our angels!

So… thought for the week (this part actually written on Monday): how much of your life, your day, your love are you missing simply because a little voice in your mind creates FOMO? (Fear of missing out?) Today, I’m writing this from the rehab gym of the hospital. The energy in the gym is vibrant and optimistic. Schuy sits across the table from me next to one of her therapists Hannah practicing drawing figure “8”’s. The hum of the treadmill drones in the background. A gorgeous golden furred service dog reclines next to the parallel bars. Laughter here. Laughter there. The mood matches the brilliant weather outside the gym windows. The therapists and the other patients have become like family. It’s amazing how easy it is to “become like family” when we open ourselves to that experience.

This is a room filled with patients who have suffered strokes, lost limbs or in Schuy’s case suffered a traumatic brain injury. All the reasons in the world to feel like life “sucks” or that they are missing out on the “good things” in life… and yet the prevalent mood that I see around us today is one of fun and joy. Schuyler practices writing Happy Fourth of July. It’s LEGIBLE!!!

It’s now Wednesday! We are back in therapy! Life is a whirlwind as always. July 4th has come and gone. Schuyler is back on the mat doing side planks with her therapist Jeff. Her body still collapses in directions that she can’t control but my goodness! I can’t believe what I’m seeing! Schuy is doing side planks! How many times I remember struggling with those in my Les Mills classes. Tomorrow will be our year anniversary of starting the therapy in Tampa! How far she has come! It is tremendously exciting! Jeff gives her a couple of minutes to rest. She rolls on her stomach. Jeff works on helping her to get her elbows under her shoulders. Front plank… one, two, three, four, five, six, seven seconds! I feel like I’m fighting back tears. She tries again. Holding, holding, shaking, trembling… 10 seconds! One more time… hold it… hold it… hold it… “control it down… one more”…. Everything is so, so hard for her and yet she persists. She still remembers to live. Another plank… 13 seconds! She struggles to roll on her side and then slowly puuuuuuuuuush her body up into sitting position on the edge of the mat. It’s a struggle but my goodness! To think that she could barely sit without assistance only 12 short months ago!

This past week has been a true celebration of life. Officially, my life, since yesterday was technically my birthday. In reality, these past few days have been celebrating the glorious expression of life within each of us— the great ability of the human spirit to adapt and the ability of our minds to slow down the chatter so that we truly savor where we are in this exact moment.

Joy can exist when we stop thinking that “I could be happy if only ____”. “I can’t be happy because of _______” It’s the fear of doing the wrong thing, making the wrong choice, being in the wrong place with the wrong person at the wrong time…. Is any of that showing up in your own life right now? Or have you freed yourself up to simply live? 

This past weekend, we adventured and played. We explored new destinations and also savored our favorite — tuna, salmon, hamachi laden sushi! We laughed. We played. We sweated in the heat but we ventured on! Quick stop at Locale for the most exquisite cup of iced cappuccino that you have ever tasted… a cool can of Reef Donkey, one of my favorite craft beers… a gourmet popsicle (or two or three)… all with the three doggies in tow… Home for a nap then back on the road! Yes, more sushi! This time, our destination was an upscale Pan-asian spot tucked away on one of the side streets! Magnificent! In euphoric awe, we sat in silence totally enraptured with a riceless roll called the Everglade roll. More laughter! More stories… more time treasuring the moments!

Yesterday, a milestone for Schuyler: her first time back on a boat since the accident! My “official” birthday was spent on board the wonderful “Captain Mamalita’s” yacht, a gorgeous Sea Ray Sundancer that sleeps six. Schuyler had to swallow her fear and totally trust. (I had to swallow my fear and totally trust) The husband of one of Amalita’s other friends is a physical therapist so he helped me hold Schuy as she stood up. He held her firmly and confidently in the front. I held her in the back. Gently we turned her. Schuy’s friend Paige was holding the front tether of the boat insuring that it stayed flush against the dock. Amalita and her prince of a husband Jaime were in the boat ready to receive her. Jailo and I helped carefully seated Schuy on the edge of the vessel. Amalita grabbed one of the gait belts from the other side. We helped Schuy swivel and turn. She was in! No room for the wheel chair with all of the guests on the boat. Schuy would navigate this journey simply with the help of Amalita, Paige, Jaime, me and this new group of loving friends.

A dolphin left out of the waves to officially launch our journey! My heart was squealing in joy! It was an entire day of play and more celebration! More living exactly in the moment that was our current now. We helped Schuy make it down the four steps in the boat to the head (bathroom). The sea grass kept flipping off the generator so nap time became more like hot yoga. Still no complaining… back up onto the covered deck of the boat onto the banquette. A fantastic ocean breeze! Sea gulls calling, Colombian music blaring, laughter, sangria, ceviche — and yes, more sushi!

Paige and I ventured into the ocean while Schuy was resting. Floating in the salt water was like being caressed by a gentle giant. I could feel my soul expanding and breathing. It was glorious! Onto the jet ski with Amalita! Zooming! Bumping! Ah, the blissful thrill of exhilaration!

As night fell and the sun set, our boat headed over to Clearwater to anchor for the fireworks! We found ourselves surrounded by such staggering beauty! Everywhere that we looked, the sky was lit up with fireworks — all surrounding the bay. The glow of the water teased a mirror image of each firework spray. Americana music blaring… it was poignant and powerful!

Today, as you head back to “reality”, scoot away that FOMO. There is no place better to be than right here, right now. Our greatest gift is the power to adapt. That is one of the treasures that makes our species great. Today, really open your eyes to the possibility of exactly this experience. Our life purpose is not to create perfection but to create a life experience, bulbous with possibilities. Live. Love. Celebrate!

And rejoice at being totally and completely the gorgeously adaptive you!

Much love,

Meridith (Schuy and family)