Getting better, faster

One thing I’ve learned out of my Achilles tendon rupture is how to get better fast. Since I was fortunate in not having to go to work, I could spend ample time to study and understand my healing process; in so doing, I discovered three important rules that, so far, have worked remarkably well for me:
1. Accept the situation. This is a critical step; if instead, we allow for too many “woulda, coulda, shoulda,” it’s going to take much longer before the healing process gets underway. Again, fully accept the situation, smell it, sense it, just make sure it is intensely experienced. Don’t let other people tell you otherwise, feel sorry for you or remind you how reckless you were. It’s your deal, not theirs. This decisive step builds a clean, unambiguous starting platform and clears the dead-weight of second-guessing and regretting.
2. Stay sharply focused. Thrust every resource available into the healing process, making it your single largest goal. Work on measuring progress and visualizing the positive, desirable outcome. Being competitive helps, but maintaining a sharp focus requires one’s undivided and relentless attention.
3. Push the envelope. This means strive to walk the delicate path between staying safe, while always trying to grab any opening for going a bit farther or for pushing a bit harder. The danger of relapse (re-rupture in my case) always looms large, so moving forward becomes a balancing act that demands both ability and willingness to manage risk effectively. This certainly is not for everyone, but if used wisely it may pay off handsomely.
So here you have the recipe to getting on your two feet much faster and with a lot more fun; just give it a try the next time you need it!