Strong Enough | TooTallFritz

Next week, on the 2nd, it will be 7 months since I tore the tendon in my foot. I can just now …..finally…… say that I’m feeling stronger. Not stronger than I was before the injury but strong enough. I’m strong enough to make the run for Ragnar FL Keys with a full 12 person team. I’m strong enough to run at least one 10 mile “long” run every weekend. I’m strong enough to run a few hills. I’m strong enough to start pushing the pace when I have fresh legs. I’m strong enough to start thinking about the future and how I will achieve new goals for 2013. I’m strong enough to let go of the injury. I’m strong enough to be confident in my rehab. I’m strong enough to once again believe that dreams are possible.

Part of the process for me was giving myself 100% to rehab. I needed help and my foot wasn’t the only issue,. It was just the result of a lot of other “little” things being neglected for so long. I still rehab once a week, whether I should still call it rehab, I know not, but I go in to be tortured once a week. My foot is still a major issue although, it generally only hurts now after a period of immobility. Mornings are not good.

Another big part of recovery was/is about being honest. Being honest with myself. Being honest with Dr. Alexis ~~even when it didn’t/doesn’t make her happy~~. Being honest about the pain. Being honest about what was working. Being honest about what wasn’t working.

I also had to be brave and have blind faith in the rehab.

Be Brave

I had to believe. I had to believe that it would work. I had to believe that the doc knew what she was doing. I had to believe that I would run again. I had to believe that the doc was on MY side and WANTED ME TO RUN AGAIN. I had to believe.

Fortunately, it’s easy for me to believe. Running has always been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I had a few short years where I lost my way but that was a few years over the course of my entire life. I am a runner. Nobody can take that away. It doesn’t matter if I run fast or slow. I am a runner. It doesn’t matter if I cast running to the side for a few years. I am a runner. It doesn’t matter if I’m injured or healthy. I am a runner. It doesn’t matter if I’m overweight or ideal weight. I am a runner. It doesn’t matter if I race or just lollygag on the trails for fun. I am a runner. There was never a doubt in my mind ……. I knew I would come back to run again. I am a runner. Nobody can take that away.

I’m stronger now. Strong enough to run.

** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfritz.com **

You probably have a friend, or maybe you are THE friend who has self-esteem issues. Confidence just isn’t their thing. They are tentative about life, question their actions OR inactions and are just always unsure if they are good enough. I am here to tell you that they are good enough, just the way they are, uncertainties and all! As adults, life isn’t easy ~~for most of us~~ and coping is difficult. You have no idea what has happened to them in the past or is happening to them now to make them feel insecure. Avoid judgment.

It is difficult for those of us with ~~an abundance of~~ confidence to understand some insecurities but that really isn’t our place. Our place is to reassure, try to help them shine and ~~actually give a crap~~ care about their feelings. Let them know that NO MATTER WHAT……. they are:

Strong Enough
Tall Enough
Smart Enough
Thin Enough
Pretty Enough
Fast Enough
Good Enough
Tough Enough
Witty Enough
ENOUGH

to tackle anything they do so desire. This is part of your responsiblity to humankind. Help people step up, don’t knock them down to try to better yourself or feel better about yourself because it just doesn’t work like that. Karma will bite you in the ass for all of those little “nasties” which you think that nobody knows about. Karma knows. God knows. Do the right thing. Help somebody up rather than pushing them down. Avoid pettiness and selfishness and you will be better for it in the end.

Go now and tell somebody, or look in the mirror and tell yourself, that they/you are Strong Enough and Good Enough just the way they/you are today, now, right here in this moment. Nobody is perfect but own the fact that you are enough.