Moving through fear and pain to progress
Today marks 20 years since I ruptured my Achilles tendon playing badminton.
Hardly a high impact sport you might think, but apparently not without some risk.
I can still hear the loud pop in my ear as I suddenly dropped to the ground, unable to stand.
While I was grateful not to have to have surgery, or at least to be given the choice, there was months of being in non-weightbearing casts and holding my up my leg.
This meant using crutches, which was challenging and exhausting.
I was scared to leave the house, even to walk down the street. What if I fell over?
Going up and down an escalator at the cinema was terrifying.
There was a lot of pain. Especially at the beginning. And each time they changed the angle of the cast to allow the reattaching tendon to stretch itself.
Eventually I healed. Pain medication and then physiotherapy helped. And some nudging to leave the house to rejoin the world.
I tripped over myself two days after the cast came off and before I had learnt how to walk again.
I felt sick and was sure the tendon had re-ruptured. But it was stronger than I had believed.
I was stronger than I had believed.
From not being able to put my foot on the ground, to stand up unaided, I completed a 10k charity run several years later.
I wanted to prove to myself that I could. And I did.
When I hit the ground 20 years ago, and through the pain and the fear, I didn’t imagine how I would change and what I would be capable of.
Moving into retirement may feel scary, and the future unclear.
But you don’t have to struggle alone.
Get in touch with me for a conversation about how we can work together to find clarity, strength and to fulfil your potential in the next stage of your life.
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