It is amazing how my mind decided to put a positive spin on a shitty situation.

I find one of the many benefits of regular exercise is how it improves my mood / outlook. Working your body is good for mind too.

So sorry to hear about your accident. I'm confident you'll recover quickly and come out stronger and happier than ever.
—
“I'd like you to think of me as someone you'd put your teeth in for.”
—The Roches

It took a car crash that almost killed my entire family when I was a teen to make me realize that I loved running, rather than winning races. I have always been competetive, type-A, whatever you want to call it, but 3 months in a body cast and an entire year banned from running gave me the gift of realization that my love affair with running had little to do with first-place finishes and more to do with a true love affair with the motion. My body craves it so much that I began to have the "restless legs" people describe, and that feeling returns even now at times, usually when my running has tapered off. The spinal fracture and eventual surgical intervention (8 years later, after running on college scholarship, intensive physical therapy and various other attempts at some sort of natural healing) will haunt me forever, but I find that the well-being I enjoy from running is a bit of an analgesic, actually!

Leah, best wishes to you as you recover to full health and full function.
~paz y amor siempre

Hey, Leah, glad to hear that you came out okay from such a critical situation! You and your friend have been added to my healing circle's list for your continued recovery and enjoyment of life!

I had a severe knee injury a number of years back that was supposed to incapacitate me. (You know, because I was - in my mid-40's - and by their standard just this side of death, I suppose). I refused the arthroscopic surgery that the docs claimed was necessary and worked with techniques I knew of self-healing and working with the body's incredible ability to bring itself to balance and wholeness.

I kept walking, didn't change any of my activities other than to have to accomodate using a crutch and the velcro brace that I tolerated for as much of the day as I could before I ripped it off. (Oh yeah, I had to learn to drive left-footed for the time being!) It took me 9 months rather than the 6 they claimed would be the absolute max I could go without having their surgery, but I did it all naturally. And the last "9 yards" of my recovery where I gained back total flexibility and strength of the knee and leg came through - you'll love this - working with a friend who was a Tai Chi Master. The fluidity of Tai Chi helped to restore total mobility!

Here's to the power of the human body and the strength of the human mind! Your positive attitude is 99% of your recovery! Keep it up! Take care.
MsQueer

Leah, Wishing you a speedy recovery. Indeed, there is so much I take for granted. Thanks for the reminder of the preciousness of life.

I am very happy that you are recovering from your injuries.

It took me two years to recover from my head on collision and I am still working on certain skills. I also marvel at our bodies abilities. The fact that I can walk at all is exciting.

The feeling, I can do anything because I survived, does diminish. Try and remember how it feels. It's a good feeling.

Glad no one was seriously hurt. It's scary, though. Ever try belly dancing? It's a great (and really different) sort of workout. My favorite's American Tribal Fusion belly dance. Check out Rachel Brice (the best in the business) at rachelbrice.com if you haven't heard of her. It's pretty sexy, too. ;-)

If you deny any affinity with another person or kind of person, if you declare them to be wholly different from yourself, you have, in fact, alienated yourself...~Le Guin

I'm so glad that you are okay. geez you are such a stong minded person. When i was 16, i was playing basketball and selected as one of the best players from my city. I had never felt confident and so happy. It felt like all the hard work I put in finally paid off. But that day, I tore the ligament in my ankle. I was practicing and landed on soneone's foot and then she puled it right out. A couple months later, my body was strong enough to recover but my mind wasn't. I was so disappointed. You can be very cautious about what to eat and how to workout but there are those things that you can't just know that they are coming. That injury made me think about a lot and my mind wasn't strong enough to face the amount of training I had to do and watching my teammates play in the game. 7 years later, I still regret the choice I made: quit. But, your story made me realize a very simple thing. You do it because you love it. :) I will definitely start training for something I've never done like kickboxing and duathlon. It's gonna be fin! Thanks leah for sharing your story. Enjoy your Sunday :)

Hi Leah,

just to say I'm glad you and your friend are Ok...well getting there! Good luck to you both.

Take care