Benched (Injuries Suck)

It’s funny being a blogger sometimes because although much of your life is so public, not 100% of your life is typically published. Some of you may have noticed my hiatus from blogging a couple weeks ago. In fact, my sister noticed and g-chatted me to see what was up. Here’s what I’ve been hiding from you…

On Thursday, July 14th, I did something super stupid and jumped into a shallow pool at a pool party. Everyone was doing cannonballs into the pool, so I figured it would be ok for me to jump in, too…also cannonball-style. What I didn’t expect, and what ended up happening, was that my back actually hit the bottom of the pool. It didn’t hurt when I hit, but my back did start to feel like it was stiffening up soon after. I kept calm at the party but couldn’t wait to go home. On the car ride home, I called hubby crying and freaking out on the phone. I am a naturally paranoid person, so I was certain I had done something bad. It was everything I could do to not rush to the hospital right away. Luckily, hubby is completely non-paranoid and talked me into coming home instead.

Long story short, I spent the entire weekend freaking out and wondering what on earth I could have done to myself. I could move, but my back felt super stiff, so I was trying to not move around too much. On Friday, I worked. Then, I spent most of Saturday trying to rest and lay down. On Sunday, I tried to move around and get out and about for a bit. Finally, on Monday, I saw a doctor and got x-rays. I was worried, but the doctors had good news – they didn’t think anything was broken. He said he didn’t even see any cracks in any bones (though he did say they could be there) on the x-rays. The doctor also did some checks to see if I had a herniated disc, which he said he didn’t think I had either. He said it could take a couple days or even months for me to feel better. He said I could try to do some low impact exercise, and just pay attention to my body (and not do anything that hurt). Not exactly what you want to hear when you’re a group fitness instructor, or even just an active person, in general.

This all reminds me of a great post my friend Katie wrote recently called “And Everything Changes” (click to view full post). I think this sums up nicely how I relate to it given my current situation:

Whether you’re having a great day (or week or month or year) or a terrible one, it can all change in an instant. In one breath your world can turn upside down, for better or for worse. There’s really no stopping that. Breath and everything changes.

One minute, I’m dancing all day every day at Zumba Convention…

…and the next, I’m benched.

I think the worst part isn’t being injured…it’s not knowing when I’ll be better and if I’ll ever be completely back to my former self. On the one hand, I’m frustrated with being injured, but on the other, I’m also extremely thankful that things didn’t turn out worse, because they can always be worse.

But, I think I can use Katie’s other point going forward:

When things are bad, we can focus on our breath to move us through. By the end of it all, not only will the bad situation have changed to good but we ourselves will be transformed, too. In yoga you breathe through a tough posture and end up stronger and more flexible. In life you breathe through tough times and end up stronger and more flexible. Amazing how that works. Breathe and everything changes.

For now (and for the past couple weeks), I’m trying to focus on:

• Resting – my life a couple weeks ago was non-stop, so taking sometime to relax is probably good for me. It’s nice to not constantly be rushing from one thing, to the next, to the next, and the next. I really think sometimes God has his way of saying, “Hey, take it easy…relax a bit.”
• Changing my perspective/attitude – I’ve had plenty of my frustrations in recent months, but I’m currently trying to look at all my situations objectively. Should I be upset with the things I’m upset with or am I being ungrateful or unreasonable? I’m starting to think that a more positive attitude can take me further than I originally expected, even in the most frustrating of times.
• Eating well – I don’t know what to do to make myself feel better, so I’m doing the only thing I really know – eating well. Mostly, I’m trying to eat anti-inflammatory and healthy eats. Green Monster smoothies = my new BFF.

I’m trying to turn this into something positive, too:

• With my newly found “free time”, I’m trying to get organized (maybe a Project Organization for August? ).
• I’m trying to live more stress-free. I figure the stress won’t help me recover, so I’m working on not letting stress get to me.
• I’m taking more deep breaths.
• I’m watching Zumba videos – my company has recorded some new choreo, so while I can’t do it all-out, I can still learn it for when I make my triumphant return (hopefully sooner than later)
• I’m spending more QT with hubby and Bailey.
• I’m thinking about things, and I mean really thinking about what’s important – family, friends, and how to develop those relationships better.
• I guess overall, I’m sitting back, re-evaluating, and trying to approach things in a more positive light.

And if I can get one message to you, it’s that if you are healthy and able to exercise, then work it baby! Work it for all you’ve got! I remember in my early twenties, before finding an exercise I actually liked, I’d moan and groan about going to the gym, practically dragging myself there. I didn’t recognize and appreciate my good health and ability to work out. To have your health is a true blessing! It isn’t until you have something like your ability to work out taken away that you realize what a blessing it was before. So, if you can do it, appreciate and utilize that blessing. Do it for me, kay?

***

And for me – perhaps my new mantra will be “Just Breathe”? I’ve always liked that quote.

***

Reader Questions…

How do you cope with an injury?

What’s your favorite think-positive quote? I’d love to collect a few to reference and use for inspiration.

Tagged as: Exercise