I have spent much of this past year trying to get Tough. Running long races, competing tougher and tougher and longer and longer Challenges, etc. I have 90% of the worlds most popular clichés about success and perseverance burned into my psyche (and sometimes written on my forearm in sharpie lest I forget). Last week I was out on a ruck, not wanting to be there, wishing I was on the couch, when it occurred to me that just thinking about some cliché about not quitting is simply not enough. Meet my new friend Jeremy. About 3 years ago he was in a bad car wreck and ended up in a coma for 2 months. When he came out of it he had suffered brain damage which affects the use of his limbs, and his doctors told him that he wouldnt walk again. Well, Jeremy does walk with canes today, and not only that I got to watch him climb a 35 wall. His first trip up the wall took about 45 min (this would normally take 2 or 3 mim for most climbers), and it was apparent he had burned more calories in that endeavor than most people do in a week. When he came down off the wall triumphant, we noticed that he had lost 3-4 pads from his fingers. Since he does not have great control over his legs, he basically had to campus up the entire wall. I was pretty sure he was done for the day after that. I would have been. And then I saw him tape up and GET BACK ON THE WALL. Jeremy crushed a 2nd climb. So yeah, we had to take a flexing shot. Sue us. I cant wait for the opportunity to climb with Jeremy again. He showed me the true meaning of Grit today, and is inspiring me to continue to Become Better no matter what. I cant tell you weirdos how grateful I am for the high quality of people that I have met in the last year or so. I am such a fortunate man. Thanks for the lesson today Jeremy.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 17:32:58 +0000
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