27/12/2023
Day 5 of things that I Love which bring me joy and make me feel truly alive!
I Love challenging myself physically and mentally. This has always been true but has been especially invigorating since losing my leg. In my younger days, it was all about the competition and proving myself to be better than another. If I crushed you, then all the better! This evil drive probably serves a purpose for a gladiator or a soldier. That is a sad but honest reflection of the state of my heart in those days. I still compete since losing my leg but, now, it is all about the heart. I don't win at anything anymore (from a purely narcissistic societal view). I may never finish on a podium. Yet, I win with every agonizing stride and all the painful yard sale wrecks. Because my mind says, "Oh, you can't do that," but my body doesn't listen as I pick myself off the side of the mountain or run through the pain to the next corner, and the next, and the next. Despite giving it my all and gasping for air, these moments are demoralizing. Ultimately, character demands this of us! Since I don't live in a vacuum, many of these feats of futility are witnessed by others. Others who, astoundingly enough, are actually encouraged and motivated to explore their own human fragility to discover their real stength. Ponce de Leon has nothing on these intrepid explorers! The reciprocal energy drives me onward. In the end, the indomitable human spirit rises to unprecedented levels. The elation that I feel leaves me emotional and exhausted. We collectively elevate each other to become more and the devil who would keep us in chains can't stand against that! In fact, I've learned that a one legged dude can actually stand pretty tall, even if he finishes last!