It's the journey, and the destination.
I saw my physical therapist today for the first time since before my back surgery. After she showed me the exercises and stretches I am to do, I mustered up the energy to ask a question I thought I didn’t want to hear the answer to. I hesitantly mentioned that I had my eye on a 10k trail race in December. I cringed, waiting for her to tell me there was no way in hell she was going to let me run any time this year.
A few nights ago I dreamt that I was running freely down the trail in perfect form. There was no pain, no limping, no concerns whatsoever. Instead, I was having the time of my life. As I recalled the dream the next morning I was once again filled with the joy I had during my dream run. It was incredible just how much fun I felt while I ran.
Pretty much the whole running shoe industry is one big (and hugely successful!) marketing spin machine. Pretty incredible. I think they’re playing to an inner voice in folks (me included, until I read Born to Run) that thinks, as humans, we are not adequate. Yet when you stop and think about it, man’s interference with […]
Through experiencing a 100 days of pain I have grown to realize that sometimes you have to go backwards before you can move forwards. While I do feel sad, frustrated, and remorseful, I also feel a renewed sense of hope. You see, I have rediscovered the life within me. It’s the last thing I thought I’d get from pain and tragedy, but I welcome it with open arms.
There was an inner drive pushing me to get out of bed and use my legs. I think it was the realization that I was finally on the other side of the surgery and for the first time in over four months, I was in a position to start healing! It had been the vision of this moment, after my surgery, that had kept me going all that time. All I had to go on was the promise that I would have my back fixed one day and would be able to start recovering. Now, that moment had arrived. Warning: graphic image of back at end.
I find myself caught in the middle of a showdown between East and West. Eastern medicine versus Western Medicine. Acupuncture against the upstart microsurgery. Both are claiming that they can cure me of all the problems caused by a herniated disc. I don’t want to be in this battle. I didn’t ask for it. Or did I?
Half of my battle is mental. While I have nearly constant physical pain, I have to also battle with my mind. Some days I wake up filled with hope and thoughts of running freely through the mountains. Others, like today, it’s hard to feel motivated to do anything, even dream. But I do. I figure […]
Loading ...
100 Days of Pain: What it’s taught me [Part II]
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. It took something as severe as an injury and 100 days of pain for me to fully get that. The monetary, physical, emotional, and mental price of not taking care of ourselves is much steeper over the long-haul than any perceived immediate downside.