Dear Injured Athlete,
I may not know your exact injury, or where you are within the healing process…but I do know one thing, you CAN and you WILL come out of this stronger than you ever were before! Athletes are the toughest people I know. Mentally and physically, athletes have conquered what most people can only dream of. An injury is not the end of your story…it’s a part of your story. Like it or not you cannot change your physical situation, you can only change the attitude you have toward it. So bucker up champ. You are a kick ass athlete who still has a lot more to prove. This injury will not conquer you spirit or take away your talent, dreams, or aspirations. Yes, you may have to re-structure and re-evaluate certain things, but that's not to say it won’t be for the better in the long run. And trust me when I say, you still have a heck of a lot more fight left in you!
Maybe you got injured last night, or just got cleared from your doctor to start training this morning, either way, it’s a terrifying time. I am here to be your No. 1 fan, seriously if I could be there physically cheering you on I would. But in the time being, use me as a listening ear that can; relate with you, sympathize with you, and hopefully motivate you while you are living life on the sideline.
I am an athlete myself. My specialty sport comes in the form of flipping over a four-inch balance beam.Yep, you guessed it! I am a gymnast. A college gymnast to be exact. I have done gymnastics for a little over 18 years now, and love it just as much as I did when I started. I have had my fair share of injuries, set-backs, and challenges within my sport. You name it, I have probably gone through it. Sprained ankles, rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder reconstruction…let's just say my body may be telling me no, but my heart is telling me to never give up. So, all you injured girls and boys out there… I have been there, and heck I am currently there. As we speak I am writing this letter in a sling, four weeks out of surgery. So, what I am getting at here is that I can relate. I feel your frustrations, understand you anger, and sense your fears. So here is my advice to you… athlete to athlete.
1. Vent it all out. Be frustrated, get angry, cry a little…or a lot. This is a hard time, no doubt. The training room is not as glamorous as the playing field or competition floor. You find yourself spending more time with your athletic trainer than your teammates, and you can only do so much rehab and conditioning to keep you sane. Injuries suck. They wear you down mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is a hard time, and you are constantly going to be filled with a whirlwind of emotions. My advice… let all of your emotions out but do not dwell on them. I repeat, do not let them consume you. I am a full believer in realizing your emotions, taking a few minutes for self pity, then putting them in your rear-view mirror. Vent it out, then move on.
2. Accept it for what it is. It is what is. You are injured. Your body is not the same as it once was right now, and you cannot change that no matter how bad you want to. No one wants to be injured or chooses to injure themselves. Crap happens, and life moves on. The world does not stop because you can no longer swing a bat or kick a ball. Life keeps moving along and so should you. You have to learn to be OK with your situation and not resent yourself or your body for not allowing you to do what you want to right now. Resentment will only create restrictions that will limit you from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The attitude you bring toward your recovery process will either excel or deteriorate you. The athlete I know you are is not afraid of a fight. Attack this injury with an attitude of acceptance, taking it day by day, month by month, until your off the bench and back in the game.
3.Stay Involved. Just because you are injured, doesn't mean you are any less of a team player. Your role may change from starting in center field to standing in the dugout, but you are still a part of something bigger than yourself. You are on a team. People still rely on you. Go to practice everyday. Cheer on your teammates. Be their No. 1 fan. You bring more to the team than just your talent. Your presence alone can make an impact. Use the time you cannot be physically involved to observe, listen, and hear things you may have just ignored when training in the past. You can learn so much from your teammates and coaches this way. Continue to stay involved.
4. Get after your Goals. Being injured doesn't mean your body is not healthy. Fitness and nutrition are great places to set goals when you are injured and can be very rewarding when you start to make your come back. Don’t discredit yourself for the stuff you can’t do, but instead set goals in the places were you can find success and work hard. Make goals in every season of recovery and give yourself a pat on the back for every one you achieve (big or small) along the way.
5. Attitude is Everything. Just keep smiling. That is my best piece of advice. Even when things are hard…and trust me they will be hard, don’t let the bad days take away from your spirit. You love your sport, and sometimes you just need to remind yourself of that. Every athlete gets injured to some extent, some worse than others. But it’s the person's character behind the injury that determines their success. Attitude determines altitude. You have the power to use this injury as a time to learn, grow, and write the comeback story you go to sleep at night dreaming of. You are going to become not only a stronger athlete but a stronger person because of the trails this injury has faced you with. So turn that frown upside down, and keep that smile shining bright. There is light at the end of the tunnel, I promise. You will get there. I know you will. Stay patient, and stay positive.
Trust your journey, and accept your injury for what it is. You got this. And if you still don’t believe in yourself…well I sure do! You are an athlete. You are tough. You have drive, and a work ethic unlike the normal person. You will get through this. Life on the sidelines is only temporary, remember that. Don’t give up, you will regret it if you do.
Stay tough & keep smiling!
xoxo,
- your fellow athlete
