Farmer/Woodworker Loses Function of Dominant Hand (Injury Update)

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0:00 Intro
1:00 Takeaway #1 Take a Break
3:22 Takeaway #2 Clean
5:15 Takeaway #3 Reevaluate Priorities
7:30 Takeaway #4 Be Fully Present
10:10 Hand injury update
12:25 Song that I wrote ("I Lose")
14:09 A word from our sponsor
15:37 Closing thoughts

MORE ABOUT ME

I'm Anne of All Trades. In NASHVILLE, I have a woodworking, blacksmithing and fabrication shop, a selection of furry friends, and an organic farm. Whether you've got the knowledge, tools, time or space to do the things you've always wanted to do, everything is "figureoutable."

I became "Anne of All Trades" out of necessity. With no background in farming or making things, I wanted to learn to raise my own food, fix things when they break and build the things I need.

8 years ago I got my first pet, planted my first seed and picked up my first tool.

My goal is to learn and share traditional techniques and skills while showing my peers how to get from where they are to where they want to go, how to do the things they are passionate about, and what can be done TODAY to engage their own community and grow deep roots.

Whether it's carving spoons, making my own hand tools, restoring my antique truck or growing heirloom tomatoes, the farm and workshop definitely keep me busy and support - whether financially through Patreon, through shopping my affiliate links, through buying merchandise, plans or project videos, or even just liking, commenting, and sharing my content with others helps me GREATLY to keep producing quality content to share.

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Help Support this project and others!

Other places you can find me:

[davidely]

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer this year. During the surgery to remove the thyroid and cancer, it was found that the nerves for my vocal cords were going through the tumour that they had to scrape off of my trachea. The decision was made by the doctors to "sacrifice" the right nerve and to leave the left side until I could be told and make a decision about the rest. My voice has radically changed and there is a chance that I may lose it with the next surgery. Life isn't predictable. Every day we have to adapt to changes that come along. I didn't expect this, but I am keeping positive and making changes to cope. You can't go back and have a do-over in most things. Keep moving forward...that's all we can do as long as life goes on.

[Ekanselter]

Anne, you are a stand-up young lady! If you only really knew how many people you are helping when you pour out your heart. You are an inspiration for us all.

[MariaMendoza-hpic]

I’m 22 years old and I am working as hard as I can to start my small farm and watching your videos and how much you go through and how motivated you are to continue and showing the pros and cons is so amazing and eye-opening love your channel

[melissapoole]

I found this on the perfect day. I am so depressed. I have so much bad happening. I can't stop crying today. But I need to remember what I am grateful for. I think God showed me this video because I am really low right now.

[Jennyharris]

I needed this video so badly. I’ve been an emotional train-wreck lately and so overwhelmed with money and life and keeping kids and animals fed it’s been a really rough year. So many unexpected obstacles. It’s almost a relief to know I’m not the only one with issues and struggles and as crappy as things get I’m really going to work my butt off to get in a better mindset and enjoy the little victories and maybe I need to stop some things or change other. I loved your song, you truly helped my mental health with this one, thank you ❤

[_TSC_]

Anne I’ve watched you for about two years now, and you are one of my comfort YouTubers and have inspired me to learn more homestead trades. My greatest fear is losing my right hand. It is my dominant hand, the hand that has guided me through some of the worst times of my life and helps me create. You are so resilient and I’m incredibly thankful to have you as a role model. Thank you

[Toni-oygu]

Yesterday I had an emotional melt down at work and took myself off to the hospital to get some assistance. I know I have something not right going on with me and listening and watching you go about your channel gives me hope that when I finally get a proper diagnosis I know I'll be alright.
I wish you all the best with your hand and keep up the great work with your channel. Love from Australia 🧡🙏

[savannahm.laurentian]

I'm sorry to hear about your injury. It is hard to have serious injuries. And you hit it on the head when you said, "if this had happened 3 years ago, it would have drastically altered my life." It's important to realize things like the "lucky" timing.

You also are fortunate to have good insurance & access to top notch care, and a beautiful place/life that you and your spouse have built to convalesce.

I have bilateral torn rotator cuffs, wrists & hands as well as other injuries head to toe. I worked with horses all my life, not a wealthy kid, I started with shovelling manure.

My injuries also had nothing to do with my heavy yet joyful labor. They also occured as I was trying to save for a little horse farm. (I started with a piggy bank when I was ten year old.)

I think about the too, too many that do not have insurance who do heavy labor just to get by, feed their families, etc. An injury costs them ALL & what little they have very, very quickly.

Medical bills & illness/catastrophic injuries are a major reason for people becoming unhoused.

I met a beautiful ballerina at a doctor's office, confined to a scooter at the age of 26 because of a hit & run while she was crossing the street.

So, my modest life turned upside down, scant insurance, medical bills piling up, I think of others struggling. I also think of you and all the beauty you bring to the world with your hands.

So, so lucky this happened with the amazing medical advances, like nerve grafting.

With all you have accomplished, I KNOW you will come out the other side of this!

[artsteadman]

You're stronger & wiser for your injuries. Not everyone can say that when they stare down lifes' crossroads. It's empowering when you discover new strengths.

KUDOS TO YOU.

[juliaturner-qi]

I can't even tell you how happy I am that I was guided towards your channel. It not only has been good about teaching me gardening things, it has made my heart feel so warm and I feel less alone. Allowing yourself to show your emotions and cry and just be real means so much. I have had my share of reinventing myself. Currently I work as an intuitive, I sing for assisted Living facilities, and I just bought 5 acres that I am trying to figure out how to grow things in soil that feels foreign to me. I also have worked many years as a birth doula and I grew up with my grandfathers sawmill being in my front yard and always following around the workers. I have always been the helper but I am now about to marry a many who uses duct tape to fix everything and so I am the one who holds the chainsaw and fixes the washer and such. I keep on saying that I want to learn how to build things. My brother owns a business in Michigan (I am in Florida) where he builds tiny homes and green houses and such. I thought about volunteering my help to either him or someone in my area to learn how to build on my own. I have a cat shack, I actually have a black and white cat who is so sweet and an orange boy too, but the cat shack needs redoing for sure. I want to be able to do it myself. I hope to be a student of yours someday soon. I hope the message isn't too all over the place and that you understand.

[ellenmacarthur]

Wow, what a blessing this video has been to me. I am 75 and a granny with multiple physical limitations. Everything is progressive. I was running out of hope, thinking there was no hope for anything better, and very depressed. I am creative and artistic and not using my gifts. I have slowly been coming to grips with my attitude, with Gods help and the prayers of my church family. I will be back in my crafting room soon. God bless you, And I will be following you. See you again soon! Ellen

[gointothedogs]

What tour learning through these challenges is the very thing that equips you for the real goals in life. Sharing that with others going through the same is priceless! We have to always remember what we build alone can't function without us or a plan. But we are far more than hands and feet. There's things we teach others so our hands and minds are free to hone in on the beauty, the promise and the attention to details. Slowing down is sometimes more❤

[EverettSmithLoveisAll]

Hope is one of the most beautiful things we can share, ...of all the impressive things you do, this gift of hope that you have received and decided to share, is a treasure. Thank you.

[georgegriffiths]

My dad a carpenter at the age of 48 while installing windows at a clients home severed an artery and several nerves in his dominant hand it took 4 years of pig headedness and encouragement from my mum to get to use a saw again he permanently lost the use of his little finger so don’t get yourself down he went onto teach life skills to homeless people and help rehabilitate long term jobless best wishes

[donlussi]

Anne, what a beautiful song and voice. You are an accomplished musician. I tore my rotator cuff in my right dominant shoulder. Had surgery, sling for 7 weeks, therapy for 5 months, and now 6 months out I’m pretty functional. But can’t lift a gallon of milk yet or kayak. Doc said a year. You are sensitive like me, the tears come easily. As you, I did a lot of reflecting, thinking, organizing - however way I could, used and abused my husband and held a broom in a way no one thought possible to sweep a floor. I understand your situation. I am a nurse, so my shoulder and arm are a necessity. I went back to work 2 months ago. Hallelujah. Give yourself time and know the healing process is in baby steps. ❤

[kamalkhadra]

... You know everything.. You do everything.. You are wonderful hardworking woman..🥂🎩👋

[johnfithian-franks]

Hi Anne, I have said before and I will say it again, you are one of the most driven people I know. You have astonished me your energy and drive even when you damaged your hand you pushed through and achieve more than most people with two hands. The only problem you have is letting people help and handing off problems so that others can solve then and help. Everything you do is at 120% and even now you are working at a rate most people cannot keep up with. Until I heard this song, I would have said that the word lose was not in you vocabulary and although you have used it in a song you need to look back and marvel at the amount you have achieved, you are a wonder and one of the most brilliant people I know.

[intheshop]

I've been watching you for years and saw your ups and downs. It's so nice to finally see you smile and get that school up and ready. Good luck, take care 🙏

[Heyokaempath]

I was in tears right as you said “I’m gonna cry.” I just found your channel and I gotta say I’m already hooked going through all of it as a beginner gardener and working towards my own self sustainable life. You’re by far the most educational with the fun and that’s what makes learning easy, it’s the fun part. Just like taking that time to rest. Lovely to have algorithms find you. Feeling blessed today and not stressed with my soil learning. My great grandmother gave me the green thumb and I’m on my 3rd garden. Soil is my main struggle but last year I bared fruits of my labor and this year I’m super stoked!!! Thank you so much for all you do. I would love to attend your school. ❤

[BlackBearForge]

Thanks for the update. Loved the music break.