Well, isn’t life just full of surprises, like TikTok crashing our social media scene in 2016. Back then, I swore I’d never succumb to its charms. Facebook and Insta were already tiptoeing on the edge of addiction, so I limited myself to just one hour of phone-scrolling. But guess what? Life always proves to have other plans. While I was busy dodging TikTok, I had my own dance with destiny – a battle with spinal stenosis that kicked off an epic saga of recovery. You might be wondering, “What’s the connection?” Well, my friend, that’s where the plot thickens. Just trust me.
After moving to Florida, I told myself time and time again that there had to be a bigger reason for it all. The abrupt move, the financial instability, the constant unknown medically about my soul suit. That reason
When I made the unplanned move to Florida, I kept whispering to myself, “There has to be a bigger punchline to all this chaos.” The sudden relocation, the financial rollercoaster, and the never-ending medical mysteries about my soul suit – they all had to add up to something more significant. Turns out, that grand reason unfolded over a grueling four-year marathon of continued surgeries, pain, depression, rehabilitation and overwhelming feelings of loss.
Never in a million years would I have even considered that a silver lining could emerge from the darkest of clouds. Thanks to a whole lot of soul-searching in my twenties, some bendy yoga moves with my heart, mind and body, on and off the mat, and the arrival of a few extraordinary souls, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon for these little legs.
Two of the magical beings, one basking in the Florida sunshine, the other braving the Maine winters, both body workers, burst into my life faster than I once exploded a glitter bomb on a dance floor, earning myself a lifetime ban – but that’s a story for another day.
Let’s start with WildKat, or as most folks in South Florida know her, Wilder. Both yogis with unknown mutual friends, fate intervened, and she ended up living a mere three floors below me in our condo building. Our initial interaction was like talking to Tinker Bell herself, text messages that practically exploded with glitter. My kind of fairy, for sure! After an unexpected encounter in the lobby of our condo – the rest is history.
Now, let me tell you about this woman. She’s not your typical granola yogi kind of gal. No, she’s my tequila-on-the-rocks aficionado, the unofficial spokesperson for White Claw, and a dance floor diva who can bust moves in heels that would make me break my neck faster than you can say “Kristen!” Let’s not forget, she also refers to me as her “boss.” WK has become the older sister I never knew I needed – a constant presence in my life, shaping it in beautiful and unexpected ways; a reminder that magic exists in the most unexpected friendships.
Alison, my enchanting little Maine woodland fairy, fluttered into my life not long after WildKat, a surprise discovery at a tiny tranquil day spa. Yearning for some physical touch and body work while spending the summer on Little Sebago, I booked an appointment with her for massage. As I crutched out of that spa, greeted by dad waiting in his truck, it was as if the world had momentarily lost its gravity. Alison had not only worked wonders on my soul suit, granting it respite, but she had also eased the burdens of my heart. Her unique blend of massage and polarity couldn’t have arrived at a more opportune moment. Fast forward eight years, and she remains my go-to whenever I spend time in my happy place.
In the past, her intuition has strongly encouraged me to write, share my voice, and simply do what brings me joy; which I have and it continues to take me places. Our session yesterday began with me unloading the crazy, beautiful, challenging, emotional, nonstop events that are currently my life. Trust me, I know a safe space when I’m in one, and let’s just say, I felt safer than a mighty oak tree standing tall through a storm. I spilled it all, from my current biggest fears to the opportunities knocking at my door. It was a tidal wave of life, and I half expected her to vanish like a mirage, but she held her presence and gave me exactly what I needed – to be heard.
Laying on the table, it was as if I blacked out; no jarring memories or fearful thoughts coming into my consciousness. It was like a masterclass in mindfulness where I was 100% in the moment. Ok, are you ready?! I’m about to tie it ALL together. After my session, Alison began to tell me the secrets that resided in the energy of my body.
“Kristen, you need to have a presence on TikTok.“
Um wut? My social media dilemma of the century!? I mean, who needs another platform to navigate in this digital circus? Not me! But here I am, contemplating becoming a creator on the one app I’ve managed to dodge since its inception. Lord help me indeed. Truth is, if Alison had told me that taking up bridge jumping would bring me fulfillment and purpose — you know I would do it. She’s been eerily accurate with her advice in the past, after all. We continued to have an epic chat that covered pretty much every nook and cranny of my life. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks – EIGHT years! That’s how long I have been having sessions with Alison. I even turned into a bit of a sleuth and tracked her down after she left the day spa. Creepy? Well, maaaaaybe just a little. But hey, my sleuth skills are top-notch, and my quest was fueled by pure heart-driven desperation. From the moment I had my first magic moments with her, I knew that she was going to have an impact on, not only my healing, my life.
Back at camp, I wasted no time – my genius self had already secured an account under the moniker little legs big heart. Now, I’ll confess, TikTok and I weren’t exactly chummy; my knowledge is limited to those viral dances that pop up everywhere. But as I dipped my toes into this new social media abyss, searching for “achondroplasia, dwarfism, and limb lengthening,” I must say, disappointment loomed large. It seemed there was a dearth of folks shedding light on the life of someone overcoming this adversity. So, is this the path I should take? Well, I’m not exactly sure yet. However, I did stumble upon a video I’d done with SEEN, and boy, did I dive into and get lost in the comment section. An hour later, I’d tackled the barrage of misguided truths about my limb lengthening journey, which is an impossible feat in a few-second clip, mind you.
So yeah… TikTok, the social media sensation that’s got everyone scrolling, swiping, and sometimes even snickering. It’s where a few seconds can make you famous or leave you wondering why you ever hit record. Let’s see what this wild ride has in store…
Love.