How does Lindsay Jacobellis deal with falling off course after practicing for 4 years to get back to the olympics?
How do those who can't have children and so desperately want them come to grips with the reality that they might never bear their own child?
How does one give up a part of who they are and try to recreate what defines and motivates them?
When life changes forever, how do you recreate the image and goals you have for your life?
Questions like these have been running through my mind this week.
I know that life hands each of us disappointments. Some are small (I really wanted to go to the park today and it is raining). Some are big (not landing that job you really wanted) and some seems too big to handle.
This might not seem like a big deal to you, and maybe I am over reacting (What? JAMIE? over react??? NO . . .) But on Monday after a stationary bike work out, my back started hurting and got worse and worse. By Tuesday I could barely walk. The bad part is that this has happened twice in the last 9 months . . . all after different events, but pain in the exact same location. I have a bulged disc in my lower back. This shouldn't be a big deal, except that I tried SO hard to rest for 4 months so that it would get better. It about killed me to stop running, stop competing and try to wait for it to get better. I decided if I was feeling good I would start working out again in January. I started to train for a triathlon so that I was only running a couple time a week. I started slow, tried to stretch well and listened to my body. Apparently, it was enough.
The doctor and Chiropractor have both mentioned that this could be a life long problem. Being in pain and having to put training on hold is difficult, but thinking that I may NEVER train for anything again, or that I may never be able to run again is almost impossible to get a grasp on.
Like I said, it might not mean much to you, but take the one thing you feel defines you. Something that motivates you and when people ask what your hobbies are, they are all in this category. The top three words that describe you all are defined by this activity. Then say you could never do it again. You were forced to give it up . . . forever. How do you grasp this new reality and re-define who you are?
I love being active, athletic, energetic and a do-it-all type. Now I can't even lift a box to set up for my PE class.
Once again, I realize there are MUCH worse things that could happen. I follow a blog about a woman (Stephanie) who was in a plane accident and burned most of her body. She will never look the same again. Although she is grateful to be alive, she is daily trying to come to grips with her new "look" and all the things she may never be able to do again (like hold her children).
she has had to recreate her entire life and dreams for the future. I know it was a process for her (and still is).
So I pose this question to you:When you are disappointed, big or small, how do you accept the reality that life has changed? What do you find to give you motivation to keep going?
