Resiliency

Sunday snuck up on me this week and I find myself without anything terribly profound to say. I am in week six of a 14-week recovery from breaking my foot and having it surgically repaired. In that time, I have successfully done everything I had planned despite being on crutches and not being able to put weight on my right foot. I am on an airplane as I write heading to Telluride for a couple of weeks. Getting through the airport isn’t easy and I refuse to suffer the indignity of a wheelchair. This trip would typically involve daily hiking and a couple of overnights up in the mountains. This year, I guess I just watch the birds and enjoy the fact that it is not 105 degrees outside.

There are a couple of things that have been reinforced to me during my crippled travels. First, people are generally exceedingly nice and helpful. Relying on the kindness of strangers is tough, but, wow, how incredibly caring and understanding people have been. Second, everyone seems to have a story about a previous injury that left them temporarily hobbled – and they are all very eager to tell me all about it. I swear, I have listened to at least 200 people describe their ordeal in great detail. And, of course, I am asked to recount my story over and over again. In the future, when I see someone on crutches I am resolved to just nod and say, “Been there.” Those are my favorite people.

I am also doing my best to be a model of resiliency. The benefit and burden of teaching the 90/10 Principle is that you have no excuse for not following its dictates when life inevitably knocks you down. This is hard. I am very depressed about not being able to do everything I love, missing my workouts, struggling to empty the dishwasher, and generally not being completely on top of my game. But this is temporary, and I am fortunate to have people in my life that make it a little easier.

Keep moving. Keep working. Keep smiling. And keep applying ice.