I rarely have the ambition or motivation to do a blog mid-day between workouts, but as I find myself taking a rest between one workout to the next, I feel a rare energy to write a little blog.  Not sure what it is that I want to write but I have a feeling it'll come to me as I continue to type.

This is November 21st, and although it's a day that I have largely forgotten due to memory loss, ironically it's a day that I will also never forget.  A day where all the cards were placed on the table and although at the time it would have seemed that I had lost that game, I can look back on it only a year later and see that I was actually dealt one hell of a hand that day.  (And for someone that hates cards that's really saying something).

As I continue to think about what to write, what keeps coming to mind is what Silken Laumann wrote to me in an email shortly after the accident. 

"The force of your will, your dream, and your belief are going to make your body heal and do things that nobody thinks is possible.  Surround yourself with love and positive people and know that this will be the greatest journey of your life." 

I have this posted to my fridge.  It was the greatest advice that I received, and believe me, I received A LOT of great advice this last year.  Regardless though, I let her words settle into my mind and heart. I knew that I just had to keep believing.  And little by little, as time progressed, it became more and more clear that she was absolutely right. Go figure;)

My surgeons, therapists, family, friends, Wade, sponsors, triathlon communities particularly within Penticton/Calgary/Vernon, Giancarlo Nisimblat, Rob Kelly, and so many others it's impossible to mention.  But it has just occured to me that I don't know if I have thanked Paulo Sousa for what he's done.  And so it's time to do so.

 As a new member of the squad at the time of the acciden Paulo very easily could have dropped me from the squad altogether.  Instead, I showed the will to come back and he took me seriously.  There was no hand holding involved (actually that's ridiculously funny if you know Paulo...or even know OF him....lol) rather he treated me like an athlete throughout.  And that was EXACTLY what I wanted - and needed.  Every week he individualized my program to prepare me to come back.  During a year where I produced absolutely no results for him as I literally clawed my way back there were also two things he said to me throughout that time that I have never forgotten...and also have posted to my fridge next to Silken's advice. Those were:

1.) "Ask yourself if you want to be the survivor that completes an Ironman in the future OR if you want to be the  professional athlete toeing the line for pay checks." 

2.) "We don't try things here, we DO them."

Anyways, on this note I'm looking at the time and there is a swim session that now needs my attention.  Off to DO some more preparation for a 2012 where the very concept of impossible has been ever so patiently waiting...to be defied.