No pain, no gain?
The past year I have had more pain and injuries than I can remember since my accident many years ago. I am eager to get past this and transition into a different phase of training and more balance for my not-getting-any-younger body.
As I type, I have a black and blue toe, a jammed finger and just generally feel an ache in my body from daily sparring and training, trying to meet the requirements yet not suffer a setback in the process. I suppose this is a little bit of a rant; but I really am just so tired of being in pain and honestly, it gets old and to a point where one becomes self-aware of the cumulative impacts these things start to have in other areas of our lives. When I cannot sleep because my leg is throbbing; I cannot go for a run because I risk further injuring myself.
With just under two weeks to go before the black belt test, I know I will push through and do the best I can. I can handle pain but it has become a constant, one thing after another. Broken hand, pulled calf muscle, jammed fingers, jammed toes, bursitis, pulled hamstring (right, then left!), knee and body bruises, deep muscle pain and cramps, sore ribs, rotator cuff irritation, etc.
Some pain is expected and I believe is good for the soul and our growth, but when it becomes a constant this does cause an imbalance in other areas of our lives. I hope to put this behind me soon and be able to focus my energy elsewhere.