What I Learned From Breaking My Ankle

I broke my ankle two weeks ago during my first business trip since before Covid. It was a little more exciting than I bargained for.

How I broke my ankle isn’t that interesting. (Hint: stay hydrated when spending a lot of time outdoors in southern California in July or you might faint and fall down). 

What’s more interesting is what happened after.

If you ever break your ankle, get a knee scooter. Total lifesaver!

1. I experienced the true meaning of philanthropy.

At the event where my accident occurred, every guest — most of whom I’d just met — rushed to my aid. Half of them accompanied my husband and me to the ER for moral support. 

Back on the east coast, I had to find an orthopedist who could determine if I would need surgery. A friend put a message out to his synagogue listserv, and many responses came back. Several even had offers to call in favors for an expedited appointment. Again, these are people I really didn’t know. 

In short, the selfless generosity of spirit throughout my ordeal was simply extraordinary. That is philanthropy. 

2. I thought a lot about my privilege. 

It’s not lost on me that having social connections, good health insurance, and a flexible job from which I can take leave without penalty all worked in my favor. This is not just luck. It’s privilege. I am keenly aware of and humbled by this fact.

3. I remembered the advice that I often give to clients.

Trying to prevent disaster is a laudable goal, but we all know that’s unrealistic. Sooner or later, something is going to go wrong. It may be a broken ankle that derails your summer, or it may be a pandemic that derails your nonprofit’s operations.  

And since the latter is now all too real, I always recommend four fundraising strategies for financial resilience. Learn more about those in this video or this article. 

Also, drink more water.