The Way Out

Often, the best way out of something is to go through it. Experience it fully, come out the other side better for it. I like to take it further than that – find the gifts within and turn what might be an ordeal into something positive. It is possible and it is the way I’ve looked at my past three plus years.

How much more harmful are the consequences of anger and grief than the circumstances that aroused them in us!

—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 11.18.8

If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging! Assess the situation rationally and make a plan. Then execute.

When you are distressed by an external thing, it’s not the thing itself that troubles you, but only your judgment of it. And you can wipe this out at a moment’s notice.

—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 8.47

Baby Birds

In order to be free from their eggs, baby birds must do all the work themselves. It is essential for their strength and survival that nobody helps them. Their way out is through. And the gift is life and strength.

Surgery & Recovery

Holy heck, these recoveries are long! There’s no denying it and no way around it. The only way out is through, and the sooner one stops fighting with it and goes with it, the sooner the body can put its resources to work on healing. Divert the attention to other things in life and time also will feel like it passes faster. Find the gifts of it all and one almost doesn’t want to let it end. Almost…

Date?

I have no dates ahead. No check ins for progress. Absolutely nothing. Never before would I have been ok with this, but this time I am. Why? Because the way out is through, and this time through requires the longest recovery time yet. I’ve put my shovel down. I’ve stopped digging. The gifts along the way are me rebuilding my body in the gym, preparing to compete, letting the bones heal as strong as possible before hardware removal. Yes, it is painful and yes I have to work around it every day, but the gifts are more valuable.

Being Ill

Call me crazy, but there are gifts in this protracted illness. I’m building a more robust immune system. I’m also giving my left shoulder and elbow time to rest. I’ve been dealing with tendinitis in both for months now – they are feeling so much better having taken a week off the gym!

Bio Hacks

Are these cheating? Ways to skip the Through? Do things like my grounding mat and light therapy count as cheats? How about my Exogen bone stimulator? If so, wouldn’t water also be a cheat? 

Yesterday I was listening to a podcast with the topic of PEDs for bikini bodybuilding competitors. Bravo for talking about it, ladies! I really know very little about it so it was good to get a primer. They talked about these not being cheats because the user still has to do all the same work in the gym – the benefit comes in the form of faster recovery times. BUT, there’s a rebound once someone stops using them. Where is the gift in that?

The Way Out

I’m sticking with my thoughts that the best way out of something is to go through it AND find the gifts along the way. There are ALWAYS gifts, we only have to slow down get out of our own way to see them. And, if the gifts aren’t evident, maybe it isn’t the right way.

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