Try telling that to my 6 year old self though!!
Wearing splints growing up had a huge benefit to my physical development. The doctors recommended it, my parents knew it, but try telling that to a growing little boy at the height of summer, just wanting to rip it off at every opportunity!!
The persistence of guiding my younger self and teaching me about the long term benefits must have been such an onerous task for my parents, knowing now they simply wanted me to have the best quality of life later on so having to resist or put up with my natural stubbornness towards it is something I’m still incredibly grateful for.
Sneakily taking the splint off at night only to find the bloody thing reattached as they lovingly strapped it back is amusing to look back on, baffling at the magic at the time!!
I recount these stories, partly as a healing process, part to share it with the wider world as for too long I bottled this up, thinking it was something to hide – never wanting to wear shorts, tired of answering questions as a kid.
Now, to put these together, to draw something from them when an obstacle comes my way or helping others to process in any capacity is a joy and a privilege.
I felt as if though I was on a tiny island all those years ago but I feel a sense to document and use this positive energy of socials to explain it in some ways.
I do tire perhaps more easily nowadays with the energy consumption needed but to be able to slow things down, to take stock and understand how my body reacts to gym sets or adapting at work is something I mindfully grateful to understand why and react to it moving forward.
