Vol IV: #34 Pain
My calves and shins started to ache as I turned off the black top onto the rocky trail that runs along the tree line. After I’d begun a short climb, I begged myself to stop or slow down. And just as I began to ease my stride, a singular thought broke through my strain, you’ll only get better if you push through the pain. Immediately my pace resumed and carried me the final mile back to my car.
Since that afternoon in the woods, I’ve thought a lot about pain, it’s role in my life, and how I react to it. I think I’m guilty of allowing pain to dominate my actions- which very often fall short of my ambition. Reminds me of when I was in high school, specifically of lifting weights for football. I started a full six months behind all my teammates leaving me weaker and slower. And I’d love to say I worked hard to catch them, but I can’t. Oh, I dutifully attended my workouts, even saw a little progress, but I never pushed myself. I was too concerned with how weak I looked. Most of my workouts were for show, and I rarely completed all my reps.The sad reality is all progress of an exercise comes in the final reps, when the muscles burn and become heavy with fatigue. And I was the king of avoiding those final reps. I screwed myself be listening to my shame and fears. And I let pain win.
When I step back and consider what pain is, I see it as a form of communication. And we should be thankful for it. Pain tell us when something is wrong or needs attention and cannot be avoided. Now, I’m trying to listen with fearless ears because I decided the value of pain. And I no longer hear my legs beg me stop, instead I hear their pleas for more bananas and a hearty stretch when I get home.
