I downgraded from two crutches to two days ago! And while walking with one crutch is physically quite exhausting, mentally it’s surprisingly relaxing.

The reason why is that I have to walk with a certain rhythm; I have to first put the crutch down, then place my foot right beside it, then, leaning on my crutch, transfer my good foot forward as fast a possible so that my sprained foot doesn’t bear too much weight for too long. It’s learning a totally new way of walking after 20-something years of doing it with two legs.

The only way I have found to do it in a sustainable way for long lengths of time is by putting music on and walking to a beat: and one, and two-three, and one, and two-three – which, like I already mentioned, becomes something of a soothing mantra, further sustained by the beat of dance music blaring through my headphones.

And I have to admit, once again, that I am very grateful this is but a temporary condition, and props to all of you out there who have long-term or even permanent walking problems. You are quite brave and I deeply admire you for not being cranky (which I might have become after spending too much time weaving in and out of indifferent crowds with a crutch).

And I’d like to recommend the three-legged walk as a form of therapy for any suffering from stress or anxiety related mental problems ;).