Everywhere I look, there are signs of normalcy returning to our world as we emerge from our pandemic existence. The word “normal” courses through my mind a lot these days. For many, this means simply returning to life as we knew it before the pandemic. However, after deep consideration, I’ve decided that I don’t want to go back to normal. In retrospect, normal should have never been normal. We deserve so much more.
Language is our primary means of expression and communication. Yes, we use non-verbal communication strategies and yes, they have a significant impact on our ability to establish rapport. However, language itself is important in conveying a message and expressing our thoughts, our hopes, and our dreams. Language is power, but with power comes responsibility. And that responsibility is based on context and intent.
The long and winding road of life presents many forks to us. Some we can see emerging in the distance with clear road signs well in advance. Others appear unexpectedly or perhaps even inadvertently, their importance and relevance only presenting themselves fully after the fact. The challenge is to be present in the moment and pay attention to those road signs as they may provide us with more than just a momentary diversion.
The struggle is real. The struggle against gravity, that is. Every day, we’re fighting the forces of gravity and their impact on our anatomy and physiology throughout the health continuum. Young and old, in sickness and in health, we are all attempting to adapt (or not) to the imposed demands of daily function - and working against gravity is of primary concern to live on planet earth successfully.
As the story goes in Aesop’s Fables, there was a goose that laid a golden egg every day. The owners of the goose, believing that the golden eggs were due to some internal lump of gold, killed the goose. Their short-sighted desire for gold removed the capacity to produce the golden eggs in the first place. In Austin, we have our own musical golden goose, and we’re slowly but steadily killing it.
With all due respect to the Tragically Hip, I’ve got a vast catalog of unplucked gems - musings, rants, and semi-completed posts - sitting in an archive waiting to see the light of day. I have finally returned to a place that offers enough mental space to consider the art of publication once again. However, several questions present themselves. Do I pick up where I left off? Do I dive deep into exploring the vast terrain of unpublished ideas, or do I start anew with renewed vigor? Where do I go now that I can actually, you know, go?
This week marks the 18 year anniversary of my clinical practice, Smart Sport International. It is amazing how a milestone like this will prompt you to take a look in the rear view mirror to reflect on where you’ve been, pause to reflect on where you are, and look out the front window to see where you are going. A good car analogy never hurt anybody!
Up to 60% of runners will sustain an injury within any given year. Poor running mechanics, in conjunction with poor, ineffective and outdated training methods, can pose a significant injury risk. "RunSmart" was written to address these issues in the running community.
"Running Injuries: Etiology And Recovery- Based Treatment" (co-author Bridget Clark, PT) appears in the third edition and fourth editions of "Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: A Team Approach" by Charles Giangarra, MD and Robert C. Manske, PT.
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sports, education, and health care. Read more about Allan here.
Top 5 finalist in three categories: "Best Overall Blog", "Best PT Blog" and "Best Advocacy Blog".
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