#SelfCare

When an American Nurse Survives Her Shower – Broken Ankle Rehab!

/ StoriesofStories / Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe that one day it will be impossible to do your own shower and that you will become a burden to your kids and family. But life will show you that one day it will happen. And if you are smart, you need to think about it. 🤯

But this is not a sad story. This is a really fun one — about how broken ankle rehabilitation can bring fun, joy, and lots of laughs, because this is life. How you look at life and events matters A LOT! 😎

Step 1: The Horse Smell Reality Check 🐴💦

First, brutal truth: if a horse smells somehow, you probably will smell like it if you don’t shower.

Thank God I still don’t pee my pants… yet. But a shower is a must, 😅. By the way, did you check your pants today? 👀 After a certain age, it’s better to be true to yourself. If a small “lost” happens, put on a new underwear, or even a big pad, and change it often and shower.

Otherwise, you’ll smell different than a horse, but still. And yes — so many old people smell like that. 😅

So let’s be clear: no horse smell, por favor! (I make a disservice to horses talking about them, but that’s just how you smell if you don’t shower, 😅.)

Shower time! Don’t grow a stuffed horse tail! 🐴🚫

Step 2: Today Was the Day to Prove Myself 💪✨

I never wanted to be a burden to my family, and today I felt much stronger than the “vegetable me” after surgery when I barely moved in bed onto the commode. TODAY was the day to prove myself!

If I told my family I would shower by myself, they’d scream “NOOOO, it’s dangerous!” 😱 But only YOU know if it’s dangerous or not. It’s better to assess your mental and physical capacities quickly, without overestimating. Always put the unexpected in your plan.

I decided I could do it! Like deciding to talk on the moon! 🌕🚀 But I had a plan.

Step 3: The Plan – Think Two Thousand Times 📝🤪

The plan started with gathering everything I would need. And you need to think — not twice, but two thousand times, because in the shower, it’s just you. Every single step could be a risk assumed. Do not take it lightly!

Step 4: Category 1 – The Shower 🛁🔥

Do I have everything I need inside the shower? Except a mobile shower head, LOL. 😤

BRO, I will never forget that you refused to install my mobile shower. You made my life harder with your EGO. Like, you don’t know that a vagina is top to bottom, and the fixed shower rain is also top to bottom. How am I supposed to clean my private parts, twist my arms, legs, head, and body on a broken leg, in a shower chair under a fixed shower head, careful not to slip on the tub floor? HUH? 😡

What’s wrong with you? GUILTY! No empathy! LOL 😂

Step 5: The Checklist (Girls, Write This Down!) 📝💥

Put it on paper (words from my RN Trauma Manager 😂)

Inside the shower:

  • Shower bench — check ✅
  • TWO non-slip mats — two covering the bathfloor; and two for bathtub’sbottom, you never know when a leg might slip — check 🛡️
  • Showerbench — legs adjusted, must stay HORIZONTAL with two legs in bath, two outside
  • Shower curtain — properly adjusted (otherwise flood warning) 🚨
  • Shower head — properly positioned; moving it is dangerous ⚠️
  • Shower gel, shampoo, sponge — within arm’s reach 🧴
  • Long-handled brush for back (everything in my house has a long handle, lol) 🖐️
  • Pot with long handle — to rinse private parts, because without mobile shower head, soap collects; unless you want bubbles on the floor, rinse “IT” manually 💦

Did I mention a small bath towel? Yes — better than a sponge. 🛁

Outside the shower:

  • Shower supportbar — steady support point
  • My support points was: shower bar, sink cabinet, door wall 🏗️
  • Make sure floors are dry, no missing mats, no towel on the floor 🚫🧻
  • Everything must be within arm’s reach ✋

Because I’m crazy, I took my cellphone — hidden in dirty laundry, at least close enough to hear me yelling: “SIRI, call 911, because I fell naked in the shower!” 😂

Clothes: make a list not to forget socks and undies — hey bro, buy me new ones, because mine were stolen. Keep all clothes close to your wheelchair. Keep wheelchair locked all the times.

Other essentials: towels, hair, face, body supplies. NO hydration cream until back in bed — a little cream and you can fall. ⚠️

Step 6: Action! The Shower Mission 💦😎

  • Move carefully onto the bench
  • Test every support point before transfer your body (more about it on next story)
  • Wash, rinse, repeat… with “oh no, my povrecito leg!” and “Siri, call 911!”
  • Chaos + bubbles everywhere
  • Victory is mine 🏆✨

Step 7: Post-Shower Reward & Reflection ☕💖

  • Dry off carefully
  • Hydrate; skip moisturizing cream on hands and feet until you are on bed
  • Enjoy a decaf coffee or small treat — you survived! 😋

Step 8: Key Takeaways from Chaos 💡🤣

  • Plan everything — inside and outside
  • Know your limits — mentally and physically
  • Laugh at chaos — rehab can be fun
  • Tools = life savers

🎉 Conclusion:
Showering after ankle rehab isn’t just hygiene — it’s a victory over your limitations. Plan it, laugh a lot, and celebrate every messy, chaotic, ridiculous success. Life is short — make your showers fun, safe, and full of personality! 🎊

Check out the next story, tomorrow, to see how I actually did the shower after all the prep ➡️ My Real Shower Adventure After Prep! 🛁😜


Why I Love Being Old

/ StoriesofStories / Leave a comment


I never thought I’d say it, but getting older is like unlocking the final level of a video game where you gain infinite power-ups and stop caring about pointless side quests.

I’ve become a superhero of selective not-giving-a-damn, and honestly? It’s glorious.

Take a couple of days ago, for example.

I was on my way to take out the garbage when I saw a man arguing with a woman because she’d left the window open in winter. He was gesturing wildly like he’d just discovered fire, ranting about her “lack of common sense.”

Younger me might have stood there, quietly cringing. Old me? I shuffled closer in my slippery house shoes and said, “Sir, if you spent this much energy improving your mental health, you wouldn’t need to gaslight women about open windows. Maybe she needed to air out your trash vibes!”

His jaw dropped faster than my neighbor’s Wi-Fi signal, and I shuffled off, leaving him speechless. Life’s too short to bother with crazy people .

That’s the beauty of my age. Nonsense? Snip. Toxic people? Bye. Dumb trends? Not today. If it doesn’t spark joy, honesty, or humor, it’s out faster than I can forget where I put my keys.

Speaking of joy, I’ve learned how to savor the little things.

This morning, I drank my coffee while watching YouTube videos.

One reminded me of my old coworkers, those professional squabblers who’d argue about who got the easy assignments and whose backside to kiss for a promotion.

I chuckled, knowing I’d never have to sit through another soul-sucking team meeting again.

Not caring what people think is wildly liberating.

Last week, I wore my floral pajama pants to the bakery. Did anyone care? Nope. Would I have cared if they did? Absolutely not. I used to stress over being “professional,” “smart,” a “good wife,” and an “amazing nurse.”

And for what? To get nods of approval from strangers in ties and hear my husband ask, “Is there more food?”

Not anymore.

But here’s the thing: ignoring nonsense doesn’t mean ignoring what matters.

I still call my relatives, even if they tell the same half-hour stories on repeat.

I try new things, like underwater swimming, even though a seal having an existential crisis looks better than me, LOL.

And I tell my friends I love them more often because you never know how much pain they might be hiding, knowing that you’re suffering too.

Looking back, I think my mom understood this.

She used to laugh when the vacuum stopped mid-cleaning and say, “Guess it’s snack time!” I’d roll my eyes and mutter, “Just finish the chore!”

But now I see her wisdom. Chores will wait; snacks—and moments of joy—won’t.

Oh, and my hair? I’ve gone full buzzcut.

Not because I’m trendy, but because some dirty old man at work kept “admiring” my hair while wearing the same pair of pee-stained white pants every day.

Let’s just say, I took away his excuse for creepy compliments. No hair, no harassment.


So here’s my advice: Age isn’t about wrinkles or gray hairs; it’s about realizing what’s worth your energy.

Call out the nonsense when it matters, and let the rest drift away like autumn leaves in the wind. And always, boundaries up, my house is MY CASTEL.

Snack from your fridge, not mine! LOL

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s an YT beautiful man to watch on and a glass of mulled Manischewitz calling my name.

Pro tip: Boil it until the alcohol evaporates, add cinnamon, dried lemon, orange, and a dash of pepper. It’s the only way I drink wine these days. Cheers!

🚨Inside a Covered-Up CIA Operational Room 🚨

/ StoriesofStories / Leave a comment

People often ask me how I know what I know—how I pick up on clues that others might miss. They want to learn so they can manipulate others and win. But I always respond with the wisdom my granny taught me: “Your gifts are to be used to protect ALL people equally, not for yourself and not for power!”

So, let the story begin…

Imagine stepping into a room where every detail is designed for high-stakes decision-making. The walls are painted in neutral tones, likely gray or beige, to maintain a calm yet serious atmosphere. Large monitors line the walls, streaming real-time intelligence, surveillance feeds, and global maps, while encrypted phones silently buzz with classified updates. Workstations are arranged to foster collaboration but maintain privacy, each equipped with secure computers and locked cabinets for storing sensitive materials.

The air has the energy of people tasked with protecting an entire nation. This is a CIA operational room—where critical missions are planned, and lives are on the line.

But it’s not just the technology and the mission that make this space intense. The environment is fast-paced WITHOUT looking fast-paced, highly secure, and every action has immediate, significant consequences.

The walls may be soundproofed to prevent any eavesdropping, and entry is tightly controlled with electronic badging or biometric systems.

The seriousness of the tasks at hand, combined with the constant pressure, creates a highly charged environment that few can handle.

For those with high anxiety or CPTSD (Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), this kind of environment can be overwhelming, triggering intense stress reactions. The need to remain hyper-vigilant amplifies anxiety symptoms, while the exposure to potentially traumatic content, like crisis scenarios or conflict-related intelligence, could easily trigger CPTSD responses. The constant pressure, rapid decision-making, and life-or-death stakes are not just challenging—they can be unbearable.

💼 Why It’s Not for Everyone:

  • High Stress Levels: The need to remain hyper-vigilant can amplify anxiety symptoms.
  • Intense Atmosphere: The seriousness of the tasks at hand creates a highly charged environment.
  • Potential Triggers: Content related to conflict, crisis, and sensitive operations could trigger CPTSD responses.
  • Secure Environment: Soundproof walls, surveillance cameras, and secure entry systems add to the intensity, making it a space where only the most mentally resilient can thrive.

This room is built for those who excel under extreme pressure, but it’s not an environment everyone can, or should, endure. Mental health matters, and recognizing our limits is essential.

🛡️ Remember: Your well-being is the top priority. It’s okay to step back from situations that may compromise your mental health.