I only made it about half way home from the doctor’s office before I had to pull over and cry in a Rite-Aid parking lot.
In hockey, there are good bounces and bad bounces. There are things that are purely luck; 
things that just go your way that you happen to have no control over. It could be a goal that trickled between a goalie’s legs, a call from a referee that happens to favor your team, a rogue pass that found its way onto a teammate’s stick and produced a great play.
And then there are bounces that just don’t go your way. Times when you feel like you have to work hard for every inch of ice, every pass, every shot, and it’s still not connecting. It’s taking 100 shots and hitting the post all 100 times.
I feel like I have been hitting the post over and over again. I can’t stay healthy. On March
28 I played in a charity hockey game with my team. During the game I dove to make a save, and landed on my shoulder with my arm outstretched. As soon as it happened I knew something wasn’t right and that I’d hurt myself but I figured the soreness would go away in about a week.
I was wrong. I played hockey again on Friday night and it made my injury significantly worse. I saw a doctor today and he diagnosed me as having a rotator cuff injury. Not completely torn but strained. I’m in a lot of pain (and also seeking a second opinion.)
This was not something I had any control over. It was a freak accident, a bounce that didn’t go my way, but it was huge blow. I have just been getting over a wrist injury that I thought I may have needed surgery to repair and things had just started to get better. I started boxing with my left arm again, finally, and I even ordered myself a new pair of boxing gloves. Now I’m afraid the left glove will unfortunately have to sit idle for another 3-4 weeks.
After seeing a doctor today about my shoulder injury, I just felt defeated. Overwhelmed. 
Frustrated. For so long I’d been making modifications to my workout because of my injury. Now I need to continue to do that but for a different injury. It’s not fair, but it’s not my fault. It’s a bad bounce.
I know that if a client of mine approached me with a similar issue looking for advice, I’d know I’d tell them not to give up. I’d point out all the things I’ve been through, like running marathons with serious injuries in my feet, and all the times I’ve come back from stupid little injuries like this. Ankles, wrists, hips, calves. Now we can just add shoulder to the list.
I would remind myself that my survival rate of things like this is 100%, and that if I gave up, I’d just be taking a step back. How can people look to me for leadership if I’m not even following my own example? I’m stronger than that. I can overcome. I know because I’ve done it so many times before.
Blow after blow. Bad bounce after bad bounce. I’ll be fine and I will keep on keeping on.
I’ll get better, and I’ll put that puck top shelf one of these days.
Krista Patronick 
You aren’t defeated at all. Bad news hurts–physically and mentally. I have been knocked down by the unforeseen circumstances of illness for more than three years and I have let it defeat me/my body/my body image…and I’m just so overwhelmed managing illness that I allow myself to wallow or rest instead of making and reaching the fitness goals I could with the baby steps I can take. It’s just as exhausting thinking the disappointing thoughts as it is being exhausted. Each setback to someone who is as all-in as I’ve always been just seems too much.
But YOU… you’ve got this. You’re so inspiring. You can do what works within your restrictions and you can keep empowering us all.
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You HAVE got this. I haven’t a doubt in my mind.
You’re consistently an inspiration and I’m certain you’ll get past this setback just as you have all the others–and you’ll continue to blow us away in the process.
I’m consistently in awe of you. While I wallow about all I’ve lost to illness over the past few years–my energy, my body, my body image, my confidence–you are conquering your injuries. I’ve been limited by poor health and I’ve let it into my soul. You, on the other hand, are conquering everything that could bring you down.
So, this is a little bump in the road. You don’t need to push too hard. You have the time and the knowledge to care for yourself the way you need to without causing additional pain.
And, think of this when you need it.
“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely
and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
This day is all that is good and fair.
It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on yesterdays.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hockey hugs.
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Thank you. I really needed to hear this! Love you ❤
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