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| 1st summit visit 11th May 2014 |
You must first reach absolute rock bottom, in order to rise back up again. You have to fall down, to find that you can stand up. You have to find your worst moment, to then strive for your best moment.
A week before this photograph I had given up. I'd been in hospital for 12 weeks with a serious illness, and came home no different. I could barely walk out the door without being in pain, and couldn't walk very far without bending double in incredible agony. Life was a daily hell. I'd somehow get to sleep at night, to wake the next day and really feel sorry for myself.
On the morning of 11th May 2014, I somehow felt different. I put on my waterproof jacket and some outdoor shoes and set off in the car to the base of a prominent hill, around 10 minutes drive from home, which I'd said I was going to climb for the last 2 or 3 years, but had never done it. Now, bear in mind I could barely walk, I set off and sweated, toiled and agonised up the hill until I made the summit. I was out of breath and in terrible pain, but I'd stuck at it and attained my goal.
I then struggled back down ... made it home safe ... and never looked back! From that day forward I made a speedy recovery and have somehow kept the medical condition under control, despite my unconventional approach to what is a very serious medical situation.
And what is my secret to all of this? It is my thought processes and my perceptions. I keep it all at bay by telling myself I do not have the condition. When pain hits I compare it with when I was in agonising pain, which is my 10. Most days my pain when compared with then is one of my 4 - 7's ... which is fine by me. Bear in mind though ... a good day for me is a MJ 4 ... a MJ 4 might be a healthy person's 10!!!
I've adopted a very strong mindset and a gritty determination never to be ill again ... for the last 4 years it has worked perfectly and it will continue to do so. ...
