11 years ago, I underwent surgery to repair my hip; I had shattered my acetabulum (yes, that’s a real thing) in a devastating accident almost 2,000 miles from home. I would spend four weeks in Texas recovering before I was allowed to travel.

I had young children at home. A marketing leadership role at a tech company. A marathon on the horizon. Four weeks was a lifetime.

But on October 8, 2010, everything changed in an instant — and much of what I had planned and hoped for was now out of reach. The doctors who put my hip back together with a plate and seven screws weren’t sure I would fully recover. I felt sorry for myself. I mourned the person I lost. I thought the challenge insurmountable. 

But, what if it wasn’t? 

What if, instead of maintaining a fixed mindset that told me I would never walk without a limp (I do) much less run (I have), I looked at this as an opportunity to slow down, to be present, and to stop looking for the next best thing? Until this point, I had been a complete adrenaline junky, most notably taking on the infamous Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. I was always in motion and never still. Yet, tellingly, not quite present.

The accident marked a significant change in my life. And it forced me to look deeply at the person I was and the relationships I had, and to be honest and reflective. I wasn’t sure I liked what I saw.

And so, I know this will sound strange, but in many ways, I’m grateful for the accident (certainly not the pain — wow). 

The old hip would have continued to run fast towards new shiny things, never satisfied with what it had just accomplished. The new hip was thrilled when it ran three miles one year after the accident.

The old me would have looked at my life and asked, “What can I conquer next?” The new me said, “Look at how much you’ve grown and learned. Take a moment to reflect and savor.”

Beth Egan and I had a chance to discuss this concept of reframing during a recent podcast on the topic of coaching and mentorship. We talked at length about this concept of “turning a challenge into an opportunity.” You can hear more of our conversation on this — as well as leadership development more broadly — when it launches later this month.

Now, it’s a myth that broken bones become stronger after they heal (trust me). But, those little twinges I feel on occasion now serve as reminders to step back and approach things differently. So, I encourage you all to take the time to reflect. Collectively, we are coming out of a time of unprecedented crisis that has transformed our world. How has it impacted you as individuals? What have you learned about yourselves? And, what could you reframe as we face the challenges of tomorrow?

Because we have opportunities to reset our minds with or without broken bones.