Injured.
Injuries are part of running. Major kudos to those of you who have avoided injuries.
I’m currently injured, a minor thing, but I’m taking it easy while my muscles heal. Now the time for reflection: What could I have done different to avoid the muscle pain? How painful is it? Can I/should I run? How do I move to reduce the discomfort and allow the healing (it is difficult to avoid using one’s knees in daily life)And now I’m seeking out results oriented solutions to get back to running. Stretching, massage, cross training, icing, anti-inflammitories.
I can be frustrated about the situation: With my peers for not recognizing my limp and slowing down ( I wanted to keep up with them ), with my coach for not warning me about hills or providing training pattern for hill work. And I can be frustrated with myself.
It comes down to ME: I need to be responsible for slowing down, even when my friends are running on ahead and for asking questions about the training plan.
What I am choosing to do now is take it easy and get the injury resolved and learn from the experience. It may just get me back on track sooner.
“Injuries” happen during the doctoral journey, too. It is how your respond to those injuries that shows character.
My doctoral journey was amazingly smooth. No particular bumps in the road. Until…..the reading the dissertation stage, when one of my committee said ‘oh my, you have lots left to do’
I could have expressed my anger at the reader, especially when 2 of my faculty thought I was ready to defend…how could she slow my process. It wasn’t fair.
But I reviewed her concerns, discussed with my mentor, and re-wrote. Delayed? Yes, but defended with great praise, from the reader.
While I hope your path is clear of obstacles, it often isn’t. Some obstacles we put in our own path ( I didn’t think to train on hills, in preparation for an uphill course).
Some obstacles are imposed on us. Some for a good reason. Some we don’t understand why.
Throughout your course work and the independent research stage, I encourage reflection.
Reflect on coursework, residencies, and interactions with others. When obstacles appear, reflect on the situation.
At what point does it help to point fingers at others?
What is the difference between pointing fingers and asking for options and possibilities?
How do you move forward when “someone else” is responsible?
Now. What is your responsibility for the situation? Reflect. What can you learn about your self, your character? Your doctoral journey. If you cannot let go of “someone else’s” fault, how can you move forward?
What can you do to move forward?
You have resources:
-Your advisor can provide perspective, options and ramifications/consequences, and processes.
-Your mentor can provide academic guidance.
-Friends to listen and hold up a mirror.
And it is up to you. Take responsibility.
Recover the injury and get back to running.
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June 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
In the fall of 2008, my mother became seriously ill, this has been an obstacle that at times seems one too large to overcome. As a primary caregiver, full time worker and student, I felt I had reached my capacity. Then in January, I fell, broke my hand and suffered a slight concussion. Unfortunately, this was my tenth concussion (I have been very athletic in the past). One is capable of accomplishing more if one tackles one day at a time. With a cast on one hand I managed to type about 10 words a minute for the quarter (never a great typist was I).
I have recovered from my broken hand and head, and even though my mother is still seriously ill, I continue to run the pace.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:04 am
Good for you. It is always amazing to me how resilient one can be, when situation piles on situation. You have amazing resiliency. And a goal that is strong within you.
Keep on drawing on your resources, and do keep running the pace.
Lynn
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:29 am
I have Lupus, and it always seems that I get a flare right at the time a big assignment is due. These flares do not seem to show their ugly heads during discussions, or reading, just during assignment periods. Probably has something to do with the added stress.
Anywho, I have decided 2009 and beyond are my times for circumventing all obstacles which get in my way. In the past two years I have had numerous, unexplainable, obstacles, which I can only chalk up to needing to go through them for some personal development. I KNOW I am different now than I was two years ago, and I now have a much clearer perspective of where I want to be.
The Lupus keeps me fighting. Since it only tends to flare when I have something big due, once I accomplish the assignment, I feel like I have really done good work. I never ask or put forth a Lupus flare as an excuse, and WILL NOT ask for any extra time or special attention because of one. I am circumventing the Lupus, which used to hold me captive when I was working as a paralegal (50+ hours which dwindled into 30 hours). I have been very afraid of going back into that field because I knew how much I suffered, and how hard it was to function at the office, and then the weekends were all spent in bed.
I also have a really bad knee which has forced me to sell my horse and not ride. I kept my saddle and all my tack, KNOWING I will ride again. It is a matter of a surgery (which, w/o insurance seems unattainable), but upon recovery, I will ride again!
I understand perserverance and determination, and I understand myself. I have actually distanced myself from people who would berate or continually challenge my decision for a higher education, and those who are always negative in their outlook on the world and personal circumstances. To be able to run, to suffer injury, to circumvent circumstances, one needs positive influence and positive belief in themselves.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:36 am
Learner stories always amaze me. So many people deal with issues much more debilitating than what I experience. It humbles to think to complain.
That said, also use the resources to help you accomplish. There is nothing bad about that….we all need help at some time, no matter the circumstances.
Digging deep into your perseverance and determination is such a good thing to do. You really do learn about yourself.
Keep those positive people in your life. Those are good resources
Lynn