As I sit here at my computer, it is a clear, crisp winter day.
Cheerleaders are part of the entertainment value of sports. But they are also there to show the team that they are supported and have people behind them. And we, too, need our cheerleaders.
As I move through my spinal cord physical therapy, I am aware of the presence of many cheerleaders in my world. In the gym, my therapists and personal trainers are always there to tell me how great I am doing, how much more they can see me do than they could a week ago, and how excited they are as I hit milestones. The techs who help the therapists are there with a kind word, a smile, or a pat on the back. But even more so, all the other patients are watching, noticing my progress and quick to offer a word of support – they are my best cheerleaders. We all know how hard this recovery is. It is no picnic. And we feel in our bodies when we do well, or when we make progress. But when another spinal cord patient, who knows better than anyone else how hard the work of recovery can be, looks over and says, “Boy, you look great!” or “Look at you go!”, or “You got this!”, my heart swells, and I can feel my muscles work harder.
Even on the days, I feel I am not in the best of shape or as strong as I hope to be (or maybe especially on those days), these words buoy my spirits and drive me to keep working. I have learned so much from others recovering from their injuries, and I hope that one of the things I have learned is to give others the same kind of encouraging and supportive words. I know how much they mean to me, and I want to be sure I am “paying it forward.”