Resilience is spelled Glen Steen.
A Blog from his Daughters
What is Resilience? If you spent a day with my Dad you’d see
first hand that definition in action.
Over 3 years ago Dad had his accident. . .cycling along,
doing what he does and then things changed.
Change is inevitable in life, learning to accept those
changes can mean the difference between living happy or not really living at
all. My Dad has always been my teacher, never more so in these past years; he
has taught me what it means to be resilient, to move forward to always strive
for the best – to NEVER give up.
Dad went hard, fast and strong into his physio like only the
marathon man he is could do. He went up against the odds and came out on top
--Doctor’s told us as he moved through his physio that he was WAY ahead of
where anyone else with similar injuries would be; with his dedication and
endless endurance he tackled his physio
like his marathon rides and made SO many gains.
They say in many sports there is a “wall” . . and you must
hit the wall, and keep going to succeed. But, what if you hit the wall, and the
wall stopped you at every avenue you tried to move forward? My Dad has hit that wall, and that wall is called Muscle Tone.
Muscle Tone is a real JERK. Imagine your hanging out doing
your thing and all your muscles decide to tense up – for NO reason. You’re clenched,
feel tight, you’re in pain, lots of it and it seems everything and nothing all
at the same time seems to be the culprit.
Life can be mean sometimes, Muscle Tone is not fair, NONE of
this is fair. There have been many times in the past few years that I have
kicked, screamed and cried to the ends of the earth. . . Not pretty emotions,
but I’m of mind to think that every emotion is valid – the trick (and my Dad
taught me this one) is not to get stuck in those vulnerable and less then happy
moments, feel it, accept it. . .and move forward – that’s resilience right
there.
There are good days, and bad days. If a good day is 3
minutes on the bike and NO Muscle Tone, that needs to be celebrated BIG time - in
this new realm of Quadriplegia that’s an old skool Steener marathon of 600k in
comparison! Go Dad!! You make me proud EVERY single Day.
If a bad day is a week of unrelenting muscle tone – I can
STILL hear his smile though the phone. “It is what it is,” he says and in my
mind that is wisdom without measure.
My heart says he deserves SO much more, he does. But, he is
moving forward, with his grit, determination and resilience in full check.
Muscle Tone, you jerk – we will get to the bottom of you! ((Literally if haemorrhoids
are a factor :P ))
It looks as though I have inherited my Dad’s feet. . . Dad,
you certainly have left me with BIG shoes to fill, if I inherited the
resilience you have in your little toe a lone. . .well, that’s something we can
ALL aspire too.
Love you Dad.
xo
Kelly & Meghan
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