Ahh, Health. It really is the only thing we truly have

So I got the flu.  Bad.  Eight days out of work, 12 days out of being able to work out.  I could literally not do more than sleep, watch tv, and then sleep again. Fever, stuffy nose, and a horrible headache was my reality.

Even though I couldn’t read anything or look at the computer for more than a few minutes at a time to respond to my client’s nutrition lessons, I had plenty of time to think.

I don’t want to get too sentimental here, but I really got to thinking about what would I be doing with myself if I couldn’t move anymore.  If I was stuck in my body without being able to workout, to get around on my own, what things would I be doing, what would I be focusing on.  It was a little scary to think about it.  I’m so used to being able to workout pretty much every day.  Yes I’ve had the occasional jiu jitsu injury like everyone else training for more than a few years, but nothing debilitating that kept me off the mat for more than 3 months total.  So I can typically strength train when I want, do cardio, bring in every bag at the grocery store on both of my arms, run with my dog in the back yard, go to bike parks, compete in martial arts tournaments.  I had lost perspective of that.  I had lost how lucky I really am to have such an active lifestyle.  I was focused on winning and losing in martial arts, versus just the joy in general of being able to do it at all.

So when I got back to training, it felt entirely different.  I wasn’t upset when my guard was passed, I focused on moving to getting back to a better position, because I was grateful to be there.  I had a hard time breathing and was tired quickly.  But I didn’t want to stop to take a rest because I was able to move and know I could just slow down my body a little bit to make it.  I felt more grateful for my teammates and the training that they bring every time we get on the mat together.  Appreciating their different styles, and appreciating the knowledge I’ve been given by my coach and training partners over the years to be able to recover and enjoy the beauty of movement in jiu jitsu.

So sometimes, getting knocked off the wagon isn’t a bad thing.  When used as a time to reflect and get back to a place of gratefulness for my health, my people, and my ability to move – it really is the best thing that has happened to me in awhile.