So about 6 years ago, during the breaking down of a set from a show I was in, I fell off of a scaffolding and dropped about 5-6ft to the ground where I, landed very hard on my back missing a set of stairs but inches. I was lucky and was able to get up and move and while at first it I didn't think of it as being too serious, it has continued to pop up every now and then. And when it does, it does it at the worst possible time.
This past week, I had to see my chiropractor and get adjustments done due to the pain I was dealing with.
Now, I am not one to let a little pain stop me, as proof of this I umpired over 20+ games with a broken hand. I did this because I wasn't going to let a broken hand stop me from doing what I love.
However, when I get this pain that shoots from my back to my knees and makes it hard to either sit or stand for even short periods of time is just frustrating.
And to make things a bit more annoying is that I was asked by multiple associations to work some baseball games this week and weekend, and I've had to turn them down to this. Thankfully, the assignors have been very understanding and supportive.
Now I am a very resilient person and have been ever since I was born. I was born with bi-lateral club feet and underwent multiple surgeries both then as well as when I got older.
Yet, I have had to deal with nagging pain due to this, but I have rarely let that stop me from doing the activities that I enjoy. Many people thought that I would never walk, I proved them wrong. I wouldn't just walk I would run and while I may not always have had the best sense of direction, as my parents used to say when I was little, "why walk when you can RUN"
When I got older, for example, to play sports, I needed to wear leg braces (similar to the ones in the movie Forrest Gump) However, mine wasn't metal, but were custom made and molded to support my weak ankles and calves, and as a Red Sox fan they were colored red and blue of course.
Now. when some people might think I looked funny with them on, my friends and teammates didn't give them a second glance. I've shocked, quite a lot of people both when I was little and still now, I surprise a lot of people by my determination and my will to do what I am passionate about. My main love and passion now is being the best baseball umpire that I can be. I have been umpiring now for 18 years both back in Vermont and New Hampshire where I began this journey, and now this is my fifth season here umpiring in Florida. Now and I have to deal with some pain, but I love what I do and I push through the pain to make all the calls that are required of me to do.
Yet, with this back issue, it has reduced me to being at home, sitting in my massage chair, or doing stretches to try and loosen my back up so that I can take our dog for a walk for instance. This back problem has also made going to the gym and umpiring not doable in my condition. I am due to get an MRI this week and then I see my orthopedist the following week, so hopefully, I'll get some much-needed answers.
I just saw the newest remake of the movie "A Star is Born" with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga tonight, and it made me think how grateful I am for the ability to do what I love, as well as the fact that life is soo short that you should always try and be grateful for what you have, and always try and lift others up, and be resilient, if you get knocked down, brush yourself off and get back up, always get back up.
One of the reasons I got my Phoenix tattoo is to remind myself that like the Phoenix when it gets tired and weary it chooses to burn and out of its ashes, it comes back this time stronger and ready to fly.
This is what I just need to do is to let myself rest and let my body heal and then when I am ready, I'll fly again.
This past week, I had to see my chiropractor and get adjustments done due to the pain I was dealing with.
Now, I am not one to let a little pain stop me, as proof of this I umpired over 20+ games with a broken hand. I did this because I wasn't going to let a broken hand stop me from doing what I love.
However, when I get this pain that shoots from my back to my knees and makes it hard to either sit or stand for even short periods of time is just frustrating.
And to make things a bit more annoying is that I was asked by multiple associations to work some baseball games this week and weekend, and I've had to turn them down to this. Thankfully, the assignors have been very understanding and supportive.
Now I am a very resilient person and have been ever since I was born. I was born with bi-lateral club feet and underwent multiple surgeries both then as well as when I got older.
Yet, I have had to deal with nagging pain due to this, but I have rarely let that stop me from doing the activities that I enjoy. Many people thought that I would never walk, I proved them wrong. I wouldn't just walk I would run and while I may not always have had the best sense of direction, as my parents used to say when I was little, "why walk when you can RUN"
When I got older, for example, to play sports, I needed to wear leg braces (similar to the ones in the movie Forrest Gump) However, mine wasn't metal, but were custom made and molded to support my weak ankles and calves, and as a Red Sox fan they were colored red and blue of course.
Now. when some people might think I looked funny with them on, my friends and teammates didn't give them a second glance. I've shocked, quite a lot of people both when I was little and still now, I surprise a lot of people by my determination and my will to do what I am passionate about. My main love and passion now is being the best baseball umpire that I can be. I have been umpiring now for 18 years both back in Vermont and New Hampshire where I began this journey, and now this is my fifth season here umpiring in Florida. Now and I have to deal with some pain, but I love what I do and I push through the pain to make all the calls that are required of me to do.
Yet, with this back issue, it has reduced me to being at home, sitting in my massage chair, or doing stretches to try and loosen my back up so that I can take our dog for a walk for instance. This back problem has also made going to the gym and umpiring not doable in my condition. I am due to get an MRI this week and then I see my orthopedist the following week, so hopefully, I'll get some much-needed answers.
I just saw the newest remake of the movie "A Star is Born" with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga tonight, and it made me think how grateful I am for the ability to do what I love, as well as the fact that life is soo short that you should always try and be grateful for what you have, and always try and lift others up, and be resilient, if you get knocked down, brush yourself off and get back up, always get back up.
One of the reasons I got my Phoenix tattoo is to remind myself that like the Phoenix when it gets tired and weary it chooses to burn and out of its ashes, it comes back this time stronger and ready to fly.
This is what I just need to do is to let myself rest and let my body heal and then when I am ready, I'll fly again.
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