Sometimes, getting up after being knocked down is one of the hardest things that a person can do. We have all had our fair share of getting knocked down in our lives. It could be that girl or guy getting away, or not hearing back from the job you were really looking forward to getting, or the will to try something that you failed at the first time. We all have these struggles throughout our lives. You shouldn’t take them as a bad thing but, rather, something to guide you.
Two years ago, I was more active than I had ever been. I was running between two and five miles every day, working with the United States Marines getting ready to enlist and I was a member of the Murray State Racer Band. During this time, I suffered an injury to my leg that forced me to stop preparing for the Marines, and made me unable to finish the season with the band. Just a month after this happened, a disc ruptured in my neck forcing me to stop all physical activity for my own safety.
After this, I was unable to join the Marines and had to watch all of my friends finish the season from the sidelines unable to actually march the show myself. I soon fell into a rut, unable to run due to my leg, and unable to do any form of lifting due to the ruptured disc in my neck. I was forced into becoming lethargic, something that went against my entire nature. The only way out was an expensive and potentially useless surgery.
After two years and many conversations with family and doctors, I had the surgery. With a titanium disk in my neck, I’ve felt better than ever, and for the first time in two years I have been able to actually exercise once again. Being able to do this was much more than the physical ability, but also overcoming years of being afraid to get out of bed due to pain.
From all of this, I learned something great. Pain and fear can be your biggest motivation and overcoming them can be something truly rewarding. Through the pain, you learn to appreciate everything you have. The ability to do the things that I enjoyed was taken away from me, but that just made the things I could do so much better. It gives you a reference point for the rest of your life. Without lows, we would never be able to appreciate the highs in our life.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Write your injuries in dust, your benefits in marble.” Do not regret the things you have lost, or the things that you don’t have, but rather rejoice in everything that is there for you. When you overcome your fears and succeed in your accomplishments, those are the moments that shape who you are. The bad moments are simply guidelines to lead you to become the person who you want to be.
Fear is an emotion that all creatures have as a way to protect themselves. Most of the time they fear pain, stopping them from doing something. However, pain isn’t always bad. The only time there truly is no pain, is in death. From the stubbed toe, to your favorite sports team being beaten, pain is inevitable. And it teaches you something new every time you experience it. And why fear and run from something you cannot avoid? It can be the driving force to help you become the person that you want to be.
