Fall down. Get back up. Fall down. Get back up. Fall down. Get back up. The cycle. I know very few people in life who are on a constant high. Who ride the waves of life where everything is grand all the time. Well. Sometimes it seems like there are people all around who have it smooth sailing.
Life is beyond challenging. Life is hard. That is life. No one said life was going to be easy. And one must ride the waves. Up and down. Up and down. Really, what choice do you have? There are days. Everything is spinning out of control. Everything. Anything and everything not nailed down. And, sometimes, those days turn into months. Months turn into years. And life seems to settle into this uncomfortable muck that you're stuck in...that you can't get out of...that you find yourself trapped in...and all too often, we don't...or can't, find a way to fight our way out...or back to the simple joys that once were our normal...or what we once thought was our normal.
But, there are some things that are constant in life. There are so many things in life worth fighting for...be a fighter...be a warrior. I don't mean that in the bad sense. It's hard because there's so much stress and tension and frustration and anger in the world and in people's lives these days. So much anger comes from frustration and a feeling of hopelessness. People put up walls and masks and go about their days because they are tired and weary. And life goes on.
But. Still.
You. Must. Fight.
Get Up.
Get Up.
Surround yourself with those individuals that lift you up. Surround yourself with those things that bring you purpose and joy. Surround yourself with a Purpose greater than yourself.
And Get Up.
We all have obstacles. Daily. Hourly. Some days are harder than others. Some days. Just. Don't. Work.
It's Ok.
But. Then.
Get Up.
I have been struggling for well over 8 months with a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder. I've had my share of challenges over the last several years (more since I've turned 50! WHAT!), however, they really are mild in comparison to others. I am extremely grateful for my health and the ability I have to move my body and to not only exercise, but do something I love, run.
Since my tear is only a partial tear and not a complete tear, surgery was never considered an option. Physical therapy was the way to go, and I fully participated in months of PT, finishing up about 2 months ago. The PT worked well for quite sometime. It was hard work. It was painful. However, I was focused on healing my shoulder. I always had indescribable neck pain along with the shoulder pain...really, more painful than the shoulder. On a pain scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most painful, I was at an 8 most days. Chronic pain.
The shoulder started to get better...the neck...not so much. I persisted in my exercises and physical therapy. I knew the rehabilitation would be long and painful. I was up for the task. About a month before my PT ended, for some reason, things started going the opposite direction and my pain began worsening again. I was in great distress.
All along I was still running. Mainly on the weekends. Not much, but enough to maintain my fitness during the school year. However, about a month ago the pain was such that I could not run. Aside from the shoulder/neck pain, I have never been in better shape...except when I trained for the marathon 2 years ago. I have never been healthier. Frustration.
I was determined to do whatever I needed to do to fully heal my shoulder and get back on track with my fitness and running schedule. I just feel better when I take care of myself. Every spring, for the past 4 years, I have run Pittsburgh's Half Marathon, for my favorite charity, Genre's Kids. I decided sometime ago, since I was healthy and strong, that this next spring I would run the full marathon. But, I needed to heal my shoulder first. I had plenty of time. My physical therapist believed my shoulder was just inflamed and suggested I take some time off. No exercises, no running. Ugh. Ok.
It killed me to do it, but I had a long term goal. So, I rested the shoulder for 3 weeks. No exercises. No running. I walked. And I walked. I tried to walk 3 miles in the morning and 3 miles at night. I did eventually add in my strengthening/PT exercises for my shoulder, arms, neck and back along with my regular strength exercises.
I went out yesterday and ran a little bit. I'm not going to push it. I still have some pain. I don't have to start my formal training for the marathon until December. My goal in the next 4 months is to slowly continue to fully heal my shoulder and to build strength and endurance to prepare my body to start training. I feel healthy. I feel strong. I have a goal and I am grateful.
For the most part, I am a driven, motivated person. Especially the past 5 years. In the same regard, I have faced many challenges. Especially the past 5 years. Good days. Bad days. I still come back to the same two words.
Get Up.
