Decade Passed…

Today marks ten years since the plane crash. It’s always an interesting day in that it’s a day with so many different emotions from loss to thankfulness as well as being just a normal day. It’s weird how you can go through the day and do what you have planned, but in the back of your mind you are going through what happened that day to where you were, to what you were doing. I don’t remember many details, probably for the best, but I don’t need to remember the details to know I’m so grateful for the people who came to our rescue and risked their own lives and well-being for mine and the others. I’ve been able to enjoy the last ten years, but I can’t say it’s been easy. Along with the good moments, there’s been a lot of learning new things as well as a lot of crying and frustration over the constant chore my body can be. It’s been a process and continues to be one where I’m regularly learning. That said, I can’t focus on how it affects me daily and probably will struggle for the rest of my life, but what I can do is live in the moment, deal with whatever is happening at the time, and find the positive in the everyday. There is no amount of words I can say to thank those people that were there to save us, but what I can do is enjoy the life they’ve given me, do the things I came so close to losing, and hopping on opportunities almost lost.

Along with the people there, there were people who weren’t there that I’m incredibly thankful to have in my life. Recovery isn’t easy and never really over, and it isn’t something I could’ve done by myself and that’s where you guys came in. Whether it was to babysit me so my parents could attend bible study, to coming and visiting me in the hospital, to just sitting and making me laugh. I may have known you for years or just recently met you, but each and every one of you have played a role in my journey and continue to do so.

If you’re still reading this, yep, I’ve started a blog. It’s been on my mind for a while now, and it just feels right. I’m hoping to write about my story along with how it still has such a big impact in my everyday life and how I’ve processed/viewed it, which brings me to the name of it: “Slow Burn.” Everyone knows burns and injuries are extremely fast and painful. However, this has nothing to do with the physical burns, but how the aftermath happens as a slow burn. How I’m learning new things about my body and what it can/can’t do, how to process the thoughts and feelings that come with it, and myself in general. This isn’t to make you feel bad or make you think “woe is Rach,” but hopefully encourages you in your everyday life to push on with whatever you’re going through. To remind you that you, in fact, are not alone in it. I’ve had a couple thoughts about this blog and how I want it to be, and I want people to feel completely comfortable messaging me if they just want to talk about something that’s happening with them or has happened to them, hence the contact page. I know I have a unique situation in that I can relate to so many different people even if the situation is completely different, and we need to stick together and be that ear or encouragement for each other. I want it to be funny, sad, and honest.

Lastly, I just want to make something known before-hand I want this to be a positive thing, so honestly if you have nothing nice to say just keep scrolling on. Just don’t read it. I don’t lose anything if you don’t read it. We should build each other up instead of tear each other down. The world has enough people doing that already.

Thanks for joining me on this journey!