Just Keep Swimming

     I suppose if nothing else, this journey of mine will be a good example of how not to quit. I may never be a huge force in strongwoman or lifting (the chances of that were slimmer than a supermodel on the Atkins diet anyhow), I may never even get into a competition even on a local basis, but what I will do is persevere. Maybe that's a more important outcome. No, not maybe, definitely.

     I'll be the first to bitch and complain when things don't go the way I planned. I'll be the first to get angry with myself for my shortcomings and the things that I see as failures. I will also be the first to admit to my weaknesses. Like so many other things there's a double-edged sword there right? Being hard on myself sometimes keeps me from seeing the progress that I've surely made. But on the upside, it pushes me. I refuse to settle for anything less than what I KNOW I can achieve. I have a drive to be better both physically and mentally than the average human. There are enough average people on the attendance rolls of the human race, I don't want my name to be there. 

     We all have different belief systems, so I won't push my agenda there, however, I do believe that my Gods are teaching me a lesson here. I was talking to a friend the other day about how helping people is very important to us. It led me to thinking that helping is the reason that some of us seem to face more hardships than others. If we are on the path of being learners and then teachers, seers and guiders, then we need to have some sort of knowledge base to pull from. That knowledge is never gifted in an easy fashion. These trials and tribulations are the price we pay for that gift. They are the way we (hopefully) gain knowledge and in time, wisdom that we can pass on to help those that cross our paths. This latest injury is building my knowledge base. 

     Dealing with this nagging SI joint dysfunction has forced me to learn what parts of my anatomy need help. It's forcing me to research what movements are helpful, what movements are not and which ones I need to try out. It's forcing me to learn patience because I have to basically start over on my core and get that fucker strong. It's forcing me to strengthen my resolve to persevere. Lifting heavy things will make you physically stronger. Lifting heavy things will make you physically more capable. Lifting heavy things will make you mentally stronger and mentally more capable of catching the curve balls that life throws at you and throwing them back with a vengeance. I am reminded, yet again of a poem I wrote a while back during a rough patch I was going through. So I'll post it here to give myself a boost. I have come a long way and I have a long way to go. I may need to take some time and just float for awhile, get my energy back, heal up, fill my reserves, but then I'll swim again. To borrow from another sea creature "just keep swimming"

THE OTTER SHALL SWIM

The Otter shall swim

in the ocean of time.

Warmed and comforted by its deep waters.

Timeless and forever in its movement

it shall carry her effortlessly in its current.

Swift moving and straight;

swirling and tumultuous; 

the ocean has its reasons.

Trusting, the Otter never questions.

She rolls with each new wave;

made stronger and more agile

with every twist and turn.

The choice to the Otter is constant;

swim with the ocean's unpredictable will

or sink to its depths in the murk.

Adventure lies in the swimming.

Knowledge lies in each white cap.

Nothing more than ending lies in the sinking.

The Otter shall swim.