The physical therapist sub said that I'm tracking ahead for someone 4 days post total right hip replacement. I want to be pleased with myself. When they ask what my goals are post-op, I want to say to run a marathon and to do a triathlon again, and to race up the stairs at work as if I'm Superman, and ace all my goals harder and faster, to show I'm not aging at all. I'm perpetually at my male peak performance.
During a triathlon, if I notice I'm tracking ahead of goals I know to slow down. Especially in a race. Especially in the beginning. And life, funny as it may seem, is not a race at all.
But even in racing everyone knows that for feats of human resilience, it's the starting slow that gets the body properly attuned to the day, the moment, the heat or cold, the tempo that's right on purr for the longer game.
Sprints are different, but they are short.
Life, as I want to live it, is a long game.
To deeply enjoy it, I need to pace. There's a hubris in believing I can touch the sun. As if, touching the sun would be a good thing. Or even going to the North Pole. Just because it's interesting and quasi impossible, fun to do, means nothing.
If I get myself to go to the office on January 2nd and I slip on the ice on the way in, crack my skull open and die, I lose. I could also wait until it's a safer day and show up -- still kick it like a boss. And my cats, husband, family, neighbors and friends would much rather that. Even my boss and co-workers/clients would rather have me alive to flay, than have me kick the bucket. So.
The tension on the stage ahead -- for the next 11 days, do I pace my recovery, and aim for health and long term sustainable effort, towards showing up healthy and strong as it's right to do, or do I push hard and hurt myself? Or, third option, do I go into doldrums when the day to day return on the post op exercises starts to dwindle? When it seems I might go backwards, will I throw in the towel and give up all together at the first set back?
It's exciting. Let's see where this goes.
I strap on the ice pack and set the timer for 20 mins. Enjoy the ride.
Every once in a while, just for kicks, take a blank piece of paper and write out your ideal next job. Keep all the things you do now that you love, drop the things you're less good at or have mastered and want to let go, and fill the remaining space with stretch tasks and goals. Then write out the names of people who have your ideal job. Make a plan to reach out to them and have a 15 to 20 minute coffee break with them over the next month. Find out what it would take for you to get to the next job that's right for you. Do you need to ask for a stretch assignment? Would you be willing to make some time outside work hours to work on a related project with a mentor? Maybe do some volunteering in line with the new vision work? I suggest that you create a plan and list the milestones. It will amazing you in December how much closer you are to your vision, if you're just a little deliberate about it. Once you've created a plan for yourself, ask a friend to keep you acco...
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