physical theraphy – From the desk of Adam Thomas

I hurt my back at 21

When I was 21 a pallet jack snapped on me while I was working at Wal-Mart. One second I was loading a truck and the next… goodbye healthy back.

It’s serviceable now, but it gives me trouble when I work out. My lower back starts to ‘tweak.’ It feels like someone is putting icy hot on my back with none of the relief. The pain that originates there is a burning pain, and if I were to index it, it is a 6 out of 10. It isn’t extremely debilitating during the usual day-to-day, but the thought of pain is in the back of my mind from day-to-day.

You know that next summer I spent 8 – 12 hours a day moving furniture around?

The human body is amazing

I was in a bad place. I didn’t have a job for the summer, and my car died on me Memorial Day. All my plans died, but there was still an opportunity to get some money and have my lodging taken care of. I had to lift furniture for the school for 8 dollars an hour. I had to do it (or at least I thought so) because with everything else taken care of, it would get me enough money to buy a new car.

It was either that, or sit in my parents house doing nothing for 3 months. So, right after physical therapy, with this same back condition, I lugged heavy wooden dressers and bunk beds around my college during the summer.

I complain now about my back

But I moved old beds during the summer. I ended up learning a lot, gaining new friends, and eventually, getting that new car. I pushed myself. I miss that, because sometimes now when I work out, I retreat at the first sign of my back hurting.

The navy SEALS have a saying “when you want to give up you are only using 40% of your reserves.” Thinking back on it, I realize its true. The next time my back hurts, I will just remember that I moved dressers and keep plugging along.

Who knows what I’ll learn?

This post is a part of a series of posts based on my thoughts on “persistence.” This theme runs through March 2016 to merge my thinking. If you have any ideas or comments, please reach out to me on twitter @TheHonorableAT.