Disclaimer & Moment of Truth: You May Never Stop Hurting, But Push Anyway!
Many of you may have noticed I have been posting about staying active and doing workout challenges during the week. Last week, the day after my birthday, the workouts became increasingly challenging. (Mind you I worked out very vigorously on my birthday. I was just feeling so good to be alive I went beyond my regimen) But just a day later…I tried to do something as simple as a jumping jack and my left leg seemed like it completely gave out. I have been in many car accidents and it seems like after the last one my body has not been the same. I tried to push but the pain was too much to handle. I thought maybe I needed to take a break; I’ve been going for 5 out of 7 days a week for the past 5 weeks. In the process of me “taking it easy” my mindset began to shift. Like if I’m not working out, I might as well have some chips. When I knew that was the opposite of what I should be doing…But I was discouraged. The following day I could barely walk. I leaned on my right leg to get me through. After a while both legs became problematic, so I just stopped. I couldn’t bear the pain. You have no idea what this does to someone both psychologically and spiritually who use to move freely all of the time. I felt defeated. I started to play back moments of me dancing…half of my life a part of my ministry was to dance! To not have been able to move my legs without pain was weighing on me something awful.
Monday came and I still felt great pain. However a distraction came that caused me not to be able to work a full day. I was extremely aggravated but in my heart I knew I needed to be mobile, to be active. I ended up at Kensico Dam and started walking. I was in agony as I walked and didn’t have the proper shoes on but I knew I needed to be active. It ended up raining but I felt like I had achieved something great. The next day I was active all day. I took a couple of walks in my neighborhood during my lunch break and that evening I took a walk again. I even climbed stairs that I was afraid to climb for fear of falling. But I pushed through despite my fear—and guess what? my leg NEVER stopped hurting! But I still kept going...
Today, I convinced myself to do a full workout. I tried to do squats but couldn’t bend my knee so I went to do sit-ups. I completed my sets tried to go back to squats I could barely make it through 5! So I went to another exercise. I completed all of my regimen and felt like I could do what my body told me I couldn’t. My persistence allowed me to do squats and jumping jacks 3 sets of 10 each! My leg never stopped hurting but I completed the task!
There are going to be some tough moments…Some moments where you have to make a decision to continue or to give up. Sometimes in continuing, it doesn’t get easier it actually gets harder! But that’s when your mind shifts! You tell yourself I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength…He will prove Himself through you! Pain and all! The road never got easier. But I had a mind to work!
When life throws you a curve ball that shocks your existence…take a moment…assess the situation…Plan to succeed and get back to completing what you originally started!
I’m not where I want to be physically but because I’ve grown spiritually and mentally I was able to command my body to do what it felt like it could not do!
When you wake up tomorrow…no matter what the day brings…REFUSE to quit!! There is so much purpose in YOUR determination! PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN!