Well, here I sit, staring at four walls, unable to ride my bike, work out, coach, or run. I’m stuck here in my apartment for the next two weeks as I recover from a partial knee replacement. This lifestyle is not me at all. I’m frustrated, and it would be easy to get discouraged, but I can’t afford to.

I’ve just listed some of the many things I can’t do, but I’m focusing on what I can and must do in order to live the way I want to live. I must stay focused on the positive and on my recovery. It’s the only way to bounce back to my version of normal.

What I’m experiencing now is similar to an exacerbation of CF or any other kind of illness or disability. You have to go in the hospital and get I.V.s or seek out whatever kind of treatment is appropriate. Getting better isn’t easy. It takes commitment, focus and work. We have to be satisfied with accomplishing the little steps it takes to recover. And these don’t end at the hospital door.

Just like me right now doing rehab exercises in my apartment, your work continues even when the crisis is past. When you get home is when the real work begins and must continue if you want to live the best life possible. We have to continue to focus on what we can do rather than what we can’t do. And faithfully doing what we must do will allow us to do more of what we want to do.

Believe me, I’m tired of staring at these walls instead of being outside doing what I love. But, I know that doing the work of rehab will allow me to bounce back to be better than I was and to get back into training for the Bike2Breathe and the century rides that are on my schedule. I don’t like where I am, but I refuse to let it get me down. It’s all about moving forward and bouncin’ back.

*Exercise of the week – No elevators this week! Try to walk up at least five flights of stairs ea. day.

*Quote of the week – “There are no failures is life, only bumps along the way” – Jerry Cahill