This entire story started as a text to a friend but I decided to put it in here in case anyone else needed to hear it. When I was in high school I was a spring board diver. I tried to find a picture but I'm afraid they are all in physical photo albums :) I was mediocre but I loved being a part of something and I love the water so it was a good fit. 😊
In my hometown, we had an Olympic diving pool with platform diving. I didn’t ever compete in that but every few months our coach would have us dive off the 10 meter. (approximately the roof of a 3-story building) I didn’t love it but I always felt so proud of myself for doing it afterwards.
Our coach had been a diver in college and was now a postal worker. Looking back I realize he was a good diver but had NO coaching credentials. And it was the 80s so there was no regard for kids' safety. Like maybe 4%. 😊
I barely remember this now but one time I hit the water “wrong” and it hurt my neck and my jaw. I finished practice and probably took aspirin when I got home.
And then I lived my life for almost 20 years in pretty severe pain. Sidenote: I had a cup size of GG. I truly thought all of my neck and back pain was from carrying that extra weight around. So I went to my doctor and asked her to submit a request for a breast reduction because of all the pain I’m in. Insurance agreed to pay for a chiropractor and if I went x times and didn’t have relief we could resubmit our claim. The Chiro did a standard X-ray at my first visit and asked me if I had been in a car accident. So I explained a few fender benders I had been in and he said he didn’t think that would cause this damage.
After a lot of scrolling my memory through years and years of events - my hitting the water from 3 stories up and jarring my neck was the only explanation. I then went to a specialist who concluded 2 of my vertebrae were completely crushed and I needed surgery immediately. I currently have 2 cadaver bones and pins where my OG vertebrae were.
My neck was broken for over 20 years. We often endure pain and discomfort out of fear that change might lead to more suffering, but, more often than not, taking the leap and addressing the issue can lead to immense relief and improved well-being.
You may feel tempted to stay in a painful situation because it's familiar, or maybe we think that is "just the way things are." But I want you to remember something important: venturing into the unknown might just be the key to unlocking a life free from pain and discomfort. Don't let fear hold you back from making a change that could lead to relief and happiness.
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