『Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior』のカバーアート

Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior

Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior

著者： Angie Heuser
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概要

 Breaking through mental and physical barriers to becoming your best self, living your best life.©2021 Be-YOU-tiful Adaptive Warrior Podcasting 衛生・健康的な生活
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  • Brokenness to Masterpiece

    Brokenness to Masterpiece
    2026/03/24
    The Canvas of Courage What if the very thing you’ve been trying to hide… is actually the most beautiful part of your story? This week on the BAWarrior Podcast, I found myself sitting in reflection after a weekend of rest, sunshine, and quiet moments here in Arizona. As spring starts to show up and life begins to feel a little lighter, I couldn’t help but think about something deeper, the parts of ourselves we often try to cover up. The broken pieces. The scars. The moments we wish never happened. The Beauty in the Cracks And I asked myself, and now I’m asking you, what if that brokenness isn’t something to fix or hide… but something to honor? As an above-knee amputee, my brokenness is visible. It’s physical. But what people don’t always see is the emotional journey that comes with it. The uncertainty, the identity shifts, the moments of feeling completely lost. Even though my amputation was a choice after years of surgeries, I still didn’t know what the outcome of my life would look like. I didn’t know who I would become on the other side of that decision. It felt like my life had been rerouted-like I was on one track, moving forward with a plan, and suddenly everything shifted. A new direction. A new identity. A new path I didn’t ask for. But here’s what I’ve come to realize: that “mess”… that disruption… that brokenness… it became my canvas. This week at church, I heard a phrase that stopped me in my tracks: the mess becomes the masterpiece. And I felt that deeply. Because there have been so many moments over the past seven years where I felt like an absolute mess. Not put together. Not polished. Not “figured out.” But what if we’re not supposed to be? What if the process; the struggle, the rebuilding, the redefining, is actually where the beauty is created? So often, society tells us to fix what’s broken. Heal quickly. Move on. Or if we can’t fix it, hide it. Cover it up so no one sees. But I want to challenge that. Because those scars, those cracks, they tell a story. They show where you’ve been, what you’ve survived, and who you’ve become. Honoring my scars, not hiding them And I don’t see mine as something to hide anymore. Every scar on my body represents a battle I fought and didn’t quit. Every challenge I’ve faced has shaped me into who I am today. I am still here. Still moving. Still growing. And that, to me, is something to be proud of. Next month, as we move into Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, I’ll be sharing more stories, because I believe so strongly in the power of storytelling. Every single person in this community has a story. And while they may look similar on the surface, the strength, the resilience, the warrior spirit behind each one is completely unique. That’s why I named this podcast BAWarrior. Because I truly believe that’s what we are. But being a warrior doesn’t mean life is easy. It means we fight. Daily. Sometimes hourly. We rise, even when the waves crash over us and try to pull us under. We find a way forward, even when it feels impossible. And every one of those battles… every one of those cracks… becomes part of the masterpiece. There’s a beautiful form of art, Kintsugi- a Japanese art that repairs broken pieces of pottery with gold! It symbolizes resilience, embracing imperfections, and the beauty of a repaired life. The cracks aren’t hidden. They’re highlighted. Honored. And in the end, the piece becomes even more beautiful because of where it was broken. That’s us. We are not less because of what we’ve been through. We are more. So if you’re sitting here today feeling like a mess—good. That means something is being created. That means you’re in the middle of the process. And masterpieces take time. They aren’t rushed. They’re layered. Built stroke by stroke, day by day. And here’s something I’ve learned along the way—when we take the focus off ourselves and begin lifting others up, something shifts. There’s healing in that. There’s purpose in that. When you help someone else rise, you rise too. So this week, I want to give you something practical. Name your cracks. What is your brokenness? Write it down. Then ask yourself—what meaning have I been giving this? And how can I rewrite that meaning? And then—use it. Use your story to help someone else feel less alone. Share it. Speak it. Own it. Because when you do, you’re not just healing yourself—you’re becoming a light for someone else who might be struggling in silence. Stop covering your cracks. Start honoring them. Stand a little taller in your story. Smile when people look your way. Let curiosity open doors for connection. You are not something to hide—you are someone who has overcome. And if you’re a woman walking this amputee journey and you’re looking for a place to grow, to be seen, and to be supported, I invite you to join our Amped Women virtual ...
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    20 分
  • Finding Your Place Again After Limb Loss

    Finding Your Place Again After Limb Loss
    2026/03/18
    “The Name on the Bottom of My Foot” Do you feel like you belong? That’s the question I want to start with today. Because if you’re an amputee, or walking alongside someone who is, you’ve probably felt that quiet, unsettling shift… that moment where life no longer feels like it fits the way it used to. Welcome back to BAWarrior Podcast, a space for resilience, healing, and living life amplified exactly as you are. I’m your host, Angie Heuser, and I’m walking this journey right alongside you as an above-knee amputee. This past week, I did something playful… but it turned into something deeply meaningful. I was outside, barefoot in the Arizona warmth, and I had my prosthetic off because I was using my running blade. And for whatever reason, I grabbed a marker and wrote the name “Andy” on the bottom of my prosthetic foot. If you’re a Toy Story fan, you already know the reference. Andy writes his name on the bottom of Woody’s boot, and later Buzz’s foot, as a symbol of belonging. It means those toys have a place. They matter. They are part of something bigger. And as soon as I wrote it… it hit me. Isn’t that exactly what we’re all searching for after limb loss? Because here’s the truth, amputation doesn’t just change your body. It changes your identity. It changes how you see yourself, how you move through the world, and how the world sometimes responds to you. For me, seven years ago when I chose to amputate, it felt like I was on a train that suddenly switched tracks without warning. I wasn’t going where I thought I would anymore. And the first real question became: Who am I now? Because I didn’t feel like I belonged in my old life the same way. Yes, I was still a wife, a mom, an athlete, but I also stood out in ways I never had before. From wearing gym shoes everywhere because of my prosthetic limitations, to navigating how people perceived me, to questioning where I fit socially… it shook my confidence and my identity. And what I’ve learned through talking to so many amputees is this: The surgery isn’t the hardest part. Learning to walk again isn’t even the hardest part. The hardest part… is figuring out where you belong now. That’s the piece no one really prepares you for. And that’s where this idea of Andy’s name became so powerful to me. Because in Toy Story, those toys aren’t afraid of being broken, they’re afraid of being forgotten. Of not having a place. Of not belonging anymore. And isn’t that what we feel sometimes too? But here’s the shift. Here’s where the warrior mindset comes in. Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?” I started asking, “What can I do with this?” That mindset changed everything. I began to see this journey not as an ending, but as a reinvention. I set goals. I pushed myself. I proved, to myself first, that I was still capable of living a full, meaningful life. And in that process, something bigger started to unfold. This podcast was born. Then the women’s amputee chat group. Then stepping into research, working with incredible teams at MIT and Harvard, participating in studies, surgeries, and innovations to help move our community forward. My Community, My friends who always have my back! I found purpose. And I realized something important: Belonging doesn’t come from going back to who you were. It comes from building who you are now. Our adversity creates our strength. Our identity evolves. Our scars tell our stories. And our community creates our belonging. That’s why community matters so deeply. Because sometimes, you won’t find belonging in the same places you used to. And that’s okay. We outgrow spaces. People come and go. Life shifts. But there is a place for you. Your new “toy box,” if you will. A place where people understand you. Support you. See you, not in spite of your journey, but because of it. That’s why I created the women’s chats. Because I saw how many women were struggling with identity, friendships, relationships, confidence… all of it. And they needed a space where they could just be real. Because you don’t have to do this alone. So here’s what I want you to do this week, your call to action. I want you to mark yourself. Not necessarily with a tattoo—but with something meaningful. A word. A symbol. Your name. A reminder. Put it somewhere you’ll see it every day—your mirror, your prosthetic, your journal, your car. Something that tells you: I belong. I have purpose. I matter. For me, it was “Andy.” It made me smile. It brought me back to special, warm memories with my kids. It gave me a sense of lightness and meaning all at once. But yours can be whatever speaks to you. Because on the hard days, and they will come, you need something to ground you. Something to remind you that even though life looks different… You are still part of this story. You are not forgotten. You are not alone. You are not ...
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    18 分
  • This Isn’t Enough For Me

    This Isn’t Enough For Me
    2026/03/11
    Advocating For Yourself is Self-Respect, Not Entitlement What if the life you want is waiting on the other side of one powerful decision, the decision to advocate for yourself? In this episode of the Be a Warrior Podcast, I dive into something that took me years to truly understand and learn how to practice: speaking up for myself. Advocating for yourself sounds simple, but in reality, it can be incredibly difficult especially when you’re navigating the medical world, recovering from trauma, or learning to live life in a completely new way after an amputation. If you’ve been following along with my recent episodes, you know that my word of the year is “trust.” Trusting the process. Trusting the journey. Trusting that even when things feel uncertain or uncomfortable, there is still growth happening beneath the surface. I’ve placed the word trust all around my home-on my bathroom mirror, near my bed, and in my office, so I see it every single day. It’s a reminder that the goals I’m working toward aren’t short-term. They’re marathon goals that require patience and faith in the process. But this week, I realized something important. Trust and advocacy go hand in hand. As an above-knee amputee, my journey through the medical world has been long and complicated. Before my amputation, I went through years of knee surgeries and saw nearly ten different doctors over a five-year period. In those early years, I did what many of us do, I trusted everything my doctors told me. I assumed they knew best, and I rarely questioned the direction we were taking. Now, to be clear, those doctors truly did their best. My complications were due to hyperscarring and my body’s unique response to surgery, not a lack of effort from the medical team. But what I didn’t realize early on was that trusting the professionals didn’t mean I shouldn’t also trust myself. Learning to advocate for myself took time. It came through experience, frustration, trial and error, and eventually learning to listen to my own body. Because here’s the truth: you know your body better than anyone else. Doctors understand the body in general, but they don’t live in your body. They don’t feel your pain, your discomfort, your limitations, or your goals. That insight only comes from you. This lesson becomes incredibly important when you’re an amputee. One of the most important relationships in an amputee’s life is the one you have with your prosthetist. Your prosthetic leg isn’t just equipment, it’s the tool that allows you to move through the world. And one thing every amputee learns sooner or later is this: if the socket isn’t right, nothing else matters. You can have the most advanced knee or ankle technology available, but if the socket doesn’t fit properly, your mobility will suffer. Your comfort will suffer. Your ability to live your life fully will suffer. That’s why clear communication and persistence are so important. Advocating means taking an active role in improving your life by clearly communicating your needs, your goals, and your concerns. It means explaining where pain occurs, when it happens, and how it affects your movement. Sometimes your prosthetist has to troubleshoot based on what you tell them because they can only observe from the outside. Every amputee is different. Even two people with the same level of amputation will have completely different experiences. Our bodies, our pain tolerance, our lifestyles, and our goals all vary. So if something isn’t working, we can’t be afraid to say it. My Team of professionals over the years. Take time to talk with them, communicate clearly, don’t settle. My PT’s who helped me prepare for amputation. My Prosthetist who has my back always and knows what I want to accomplish in life. My plastic surgeon who performed a TMR a year post amputation because the pain was too much! Sometimes we hesitate because we feel like the professional already tried their best. We don’t want to seem difficult or demanding. But when we settle instead of speaking up, we often end up limiting our own lives. The goal isn’t to take your prosthetic leg off halfway through the day because it hurts too much. The goal is to put it on in the morning and live your life fully until the evening. Advocating for yourself isn’t just about medical care, though. It also applies to the relationships and environments you allow in your life. I often tell my kids that friends come into our lives for seasons and reasons. Some friendships last forever, while others naturally fade as we grow and change. Advocating for yourself means recognizing when a relationship is supportive and when it might be holding you back. That doesn’t mean you abandon people carelessly. Healthy relationships require balance-a give and take. But it’s also okay to acknowledge when something no longer aligns with who you are becoming. During this episode, I share a quote from a book called ...
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    21 分
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