Life's Hard Lesson or Two or Twelve.....

The last time I wrote a Blog, I was venting about my knee injury. Which, unfortunately, isn't any better. It's been a hard time for me the past few weeks. The excitement I had about the PortOrchardLiving.org has since wained. I am trying to be excited, I know the potential is great, but the problem is my pain is at a near untolerable level and it's taking a toll on my good attitude. I have a new found respect and appreciation for being able to walk and look forward to walking without a cane again soon. (Did I mention I have to walk with a cane now?)
I'm a true believer that life gives you what you need when you need it. Along with the belief, I believe it goes the other way too. I think life can take things away to teach valuable lessons. My fight with depression and pain the past three weeks hasn't been without benefit, although the lessons I am being taught are hard for me to understand and very frustrating.
Once I started using the cane I noticed that people look away from me and won't make eye contact. Don't think I am paranoid. I walk my dog at least once a day and was used to greeting passers by with a big smile and 'hello' or 'good morning'.  The first day I used the cane I noticed that people will look at me, look at the cane and look down at the ground as they pass me. My 'hello' is now met with a nod if I am lucky, but no eye contact, no smiles, no conversation. My dog, however, is still acknowledged and often petted. The same scenario has held true each day I have had to use the cane to walk.
It's occurred to me in the past few days how appreciative I am for the upbringing I had. I lived around senior citizens and was taught to be kind to everyone despite age or physical differences. Having never had any discrimination shown against me, this time in my life seems especially cruel.
'What is it life is teaching you?', you may be thinking. I think life is teaching me to slow down and appreciate life more. It's also teaching me that persons with physical differences are treated differently and maybe someday I will be able to help change that. All I know is that, my injury, my depression, my sadness, has to mean something, it has to be for a reason.
Please God, let it be for a good reason.