Do what you can, with what you’ve got (take two).
After a year of rehab, I finally found out last week that the shoulder injury I’ve been dealing with isn’t really an injury. That is, it’s not something that can be fixed, with surgery or without, but is simply “worn out”.
That being said, my physio (and my chiro) both agree that by staying the course with the exercises I’m doing, I’ll be able to keep doing most of the things I love to do. Here’s the deal though. I’m not writing this so much to share that I’ve been injured this past year. What I’m writing this for is to share that while going through this period of uncertainty; this period of sometimes severe limitation; I managed to handcycle some 2,500 km’s last Summer.
Despite a pretty hectic travel schedule so far this year, I’ve ski’d maybe ten days, plus or minus…
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not writing this to say “Look at me go!”.
I’m writing this to say “Look how far you could go”…
Sometimes we get bogged down; we get stuck when something is taken away from us, or circumstances change.
My question for you is: What might it look like if you did what you could, with what you’ve got?
I found a way to manage and work within a limitation.
Maybe you could do the same.
ps
That’s Margo in the picture above training for the ice climbing season in a place not known for it’s ice; Surfer Paradise, QLD, Australia… Doing what she can, with what she’s got…
Archived Comments
8 Comments
Jeffrey Stukuls says:
Warren, knowing you’re not one to give up, have you tried or looked into Muscle Activation Technique as a way to help improve the shoulder function? It continues to improve my various conditions as I train.
Best,
JeffreyWarren Macdonald says:
Hey Jeffrey, great to hear from you!
That’s what I’m working on now; training my shoulders to work the way they’re supposed to work; as opposed to the way I’ve been using them. It’s actually really hard training; much harder than lifting weights…
Brigette Bustos says:
Thank you, Warren! I needed to read this today. You and Margo continue to inspire by simply living well. Have a great week! BB
Warren Macdonald says:
Thank you Brigette Love it when I get my timing right You have a great week too!
Patrick Marion says:
Great post and very inspiring as I can relate to these stories.
14 months ago I fell off my bike and shattered my pelvis. I was put back together with a metal plate and 15 screws which causes some limitations to what I can do. Haven’t been able to get back on the bike but I am working very hard in the gym in the hope that I can resume all my sporting activities.
I refuse to accept the disability as limitating and I have no doubt that I will ride again.
Thanks for the post.
Warren Macdonald says:
Thanks for the comment Patrick; really appreciate it I’ve got no doubt you’ll ride again too, and yes; it will take hard work for sure. The good news is you have options. I believe you can get back to a regular bike, but let’s just say for whatever reason you can’t. You can try a recumbent. If that doesn’t work you go to a handcycle, and I’m telling you; anyone that’s ridden a handcycle knows what a blast it is. Easy; nope. But so much fun, especially when you start overtaking folks on regular bikes
Marie Racine says:
I can so relate to this, after being diagnose with Alkalizing Spondylitis a few years ago I really had to rethink my approach to life.
My Physio was the person at the time (didn’t know you two then) that help change my perception about my sport of choice and my life style.
He simply said to me, you don’t need to stop riding your horse you just need to change the way you ride!
His example was, lets say you’re a skier and you spend all winter in the back country, now you get to ski this season in the back country and never get to ski again or you go to the ski hill for the next 10 or 15 years! You pick!
So, i did just that, I retired my self and my horse from eventing and now we trail instead.
I turns out, we are having a lot more fun running around in the bush than we did run at a full gallop over big fences!
I wouldn’t never imaged saying that when all of this was happening to me.Warren Macdonald says:
That’s a great example Marie, and you’re the living proof of it