Legitimate Setback or Temporary Inconvenience?

This year has been extremely tough for everyone on at least some level, but I think it’s helpful to really try and assess whether the current pandemic is really a setback for ourselves, or if it’s instead just really inconvenient. Whenever I start to feel too sorry for myself, I think to a former member we had for many years.

John (name changed) was a Navy firefighter. He had a work accident where he fell off a jet putting out a fire and had injuries to his hip, neck, and beck. He blew out discs in his cervical and lumbar spine and has since had three surgeries, multiple injections, epidurals, and clean up procedures in the hopes of relieving daily pain. Daily agony. He is now retired on permanent disability from the Navy. He lives with permanent nerve damage and exists in a state of debilitating pain, manifesting itself into a recent trip to the hospital because he spasmed so hard picking up a broom that he passed out.

How it will turn out is still open ended, but with his attitude and knowing the kind of person he is, I believe that long term he will win.

We all deal with our own version of trial and tribulation. This is not to diminish or marginalize whatever it is that you might be going through, especially if it’s a serious health matter during this time. All I aimed to do today is provide some perspective for what you might consider to be a setback. The bad day you had at work. The hamstring strain. The lack of progress you’re making on your back squat because you can’t go to the gym consistently.

In the grand scheme of things, are those problems for us? Or are they just less than ideal temporary outcomes?

My guess is, life’s still pretty damn good.

-Dave