v1 (Dec 2010)

To tell the truth, I am writing this to test out my new printer. I have been just over two months now in my ’independent living’ stage of my rehabilitation.

It has been over 4 years since my life-altering accident. Yes, that’s right, FOUR YEARS! A world-cup apart.

Rehabilitation is not a destination, it is a life-long journey. This is very true. It hurts not to have a target, but instead a lifestyle. Hard to accept it, but slowly I’m having to. Although psychologically difficult, I haven’t yet been broken by any physical effort. This may be strange as I am in a wheelchair. However, I know that I am restrained to it, and know my physical limitations (or atleast, think I do). The positive ability I have is my mental ability to do what I am doing and assessing things as i uncover tasks.

I think that I have always had a strong mentality. Proof of it comes from many places including my work, study, and education. I admit that it may be viewed as stubborness, which, if turned correctly into determination, leads to self-belief, and ultimately, success. 

Now, combine this ability with patience (which i do strive for) and my physical low weight lends itself to being ‘a climber’ when it came to cycling - a love of my life. My patience and my confidence in my own company. are not only skills that I would feel comfortable drawing on whilst cycling up a long climb, but also have been forced to draw upon since my accident (from lieing ‘alone’ in a hospital bed, to living alone today).

For myself, I often feel myself being upon a long, big, endless, climb. Every pedal stroke is like it’s equivalant to a new day. It is a long, long, climb. Only when I reflect, do I see how far I have travelled.

I look up, always trying, but I can’t really spot or specify and end to the road I am on. Do I want an end? Of course I do, but I will (or plan to) continue to get higher and higher. My main target is to keep my pace up, dropping all opposition or tackling obstacles with ease.

ok.page finished time to try printer....