Introducing the Victorious Spirit
Posted on Sep 16, 2014 8:00am PDT
I'll let you in on a secret: The most common triage responses athletes
employ to get back on track soon after injury are not mysterious and do
not involve superpowers—they're simple, commonsense responses
to reset focus, problem solve, and face challenges. I know these principles
work because I've seen them in play firsthand—not just in my
patients but also in myself.
Snowbird, Utah. It's been a great day of skiing. When I'm done,
I stop to watch my youngest daughter, Ava, on the bunny hill, and I'm
so happy and focused that I don't see the out-of-control snowboarder
racing in my direction. Whack! I fly forward and land with a terrible
thud on the cold snow. A burning, numbing sensation radiates down my left
side. I'm in shock, but I'm also cognizant of three other very
important things:
- I'm not okay.
- I can't get up and I can't walk.
- Surgery is inevitable.
Mostly, I'm aware that in a split second my life as I know it has changed.
I'm just praying the damage isn't irreparable. For a lifelong
jock like me, someone who relies on his daily run for energy and inspiration,
this would be devastating. I know intellectually what it takes to recover
from an injury like this—I've seen elite athletes do it many
times. But I can't find a way to connect that to my current reality.
I'm pissed. My spirit is shut down. My confidence is wrecked.
But like most life-altering epiphanies, mine happens unexpectedly, during
my recovery after surgery. At first, I limp very slowly, up the block
and back, on a flat surface. Over the course of the next few weeks, I
add more goals and accomplishments—longer walks, then hikes, and
swimming. I finally feel ready to get on my bike and I do. My spirit gets
back in the game. My momentum is recharged. I have that magic that I see
in athletes as they perform at the top of their game and overcome their
physical challenges: the victorious spirit.
Have you had your own brush with physical injury? How did you recover?