I’m one of those “everything happens for a reason” people. It helps me make sense of the world, even if it isn’t true. I’m okay with that, especially after having read this fab book about the psychology of belief.
And yes, it’s true — I do think that most of the time you don’t know the reason something’s happening while it’s happening. Often it takes years — or maybe even a lifetime — to make sense of an event, feeling, or circumstance.
Well, I think The Boot (and its predecessor, The-Painful-Wrist-That-Turned-Out-To-Be-Broken-Arm) have happened to me for a reason — one I knew from the moment the fracture was discovered but have had a hard time articulating because it’s been difficult to admit to myself. That reason is to kick me in the pants and get me serious about exercise and health.
And here is the funny thing — well, a few funny things. I miss exercise. I never in my life thought I’d say that, but damn …it is true true true. I said similar things when I sprained my ankle (yes, the same foot) in 2010, but that was more about me just getting from Point A to B while living in NYC. It wasn’t about movement beyond the necessary.
This is different.
Now, not only do I miss walking — which is really what I missed with the 2010 injury — but I also miss other things. I miss running — yes, it’s true. Not because I enjoy the actual act of running (I don’t… yet), but because I miss being outside and watching the sunset and the turtles in the reservoir and the squirrels and the lizards on the path. I miss running — and walking — through my neighbourhood to see “the regulars” sitting in the park or on the HDB void deck. I miss lifting weights in the gym — not because I like the cooped-up feeling of the gym, but because knowing I can lift weights makes me feel stronger and more capable. I miss going to yoga classes — trying new poses and challenging myself to strengthen muscles I had forgotten about, and balancing my body in ways I hadn’t thought possible.
I miss moving.
So here it is. I resolve that once I have 100% movement back in this injured limb, I will fully commit myself to a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise. It’s clear that I cannot do without it. And, well… my bones certainly can’t.
Goals:
- Running: 5K — this was one of my 2013 resolutions, but I’m not sure if I’ll get there before the year is through with this setback)
- Swimming: 1K — I don’t care if it’s not technically bone-strengthening! I feel better when I do it. (Though there is this new study.)
- Weights and strength training: as determined by my health care professional (in the works) and my personal trainer (if she’ll have me as a client again!). Maybe some circuit training, maybe something different like basketball or tennis? I know this is my biggest weakness and that I will need to trust others to guide me.
- Yoga: chatturanga 7x in one 60min session + Handstand for 1 full minute. I will have to work on my shoulder flexibility, as I think I have some arthritis developing there. I also read something today about how the best exercises to prevent osteoporosis are spine-strengthening exercises. I’m all about that!
I don’t have dates on these yet. I’m not sure I need to… yet. I just needed to write down what I intend to do. It makes it more real. I want to get out of The Boot so badly! It’s driving me nuts. I want to move again. Two recent fractures have frightened me a bit — and perhaps that’s not a bad thing. Perhaps that’s the reason they happened.
I’ve never been good at commitment, but it looks like fear (of falling, of breaking something, of dying, of pain) is a good motivator.
