re*store verb Bring back (a previous right, practice, custom, or situation); reinstate. Return (someone or something) to a former condition, place, or position. Repair or renovate (a building, work of art, vehicle, etc.) so as to return it to its original condition.
Stand by the ways and see, and ask for the ancient ways, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
It hurt too much. It wasn’t the pain. My arm simply would not move over my head. I couldn’t even lift my right hand to my belt. My arm hung like a slab of meat in the freezer at Safeway. Lifeless.
Torn rotator cuff the Doc said, as he assessed the current reality of my right shoulder. My ego wanted surgery. Doc talked me into physical therapy. I wanted to be restored and I wanted a scar. The Doc wanted me restored and wasn’t into scars.
At PT they charted range of motion, showed me a couple of exercises and said Do these three times a day five days a week and we’ll see you in two weeks.
Two weeks later they charted my range of motion, showed me a couple of new exercises and said the same thing.
Four weeks into this the PT says You’re making great progress!
Doesn’t everyone? I ask.
No.
Why?
They don’t do the exercises three times a day five days a week.
If your goal is to restore your marriage, your sobriety, fitness, spiritual rhythm, or restoring to your anxious thoughts – quieting the monkeys in the banana tree of your head. It if’s restoring the fire in your belly, passion for your life, or dreams gone dead these three steps are PT for your soul. They work if you work them.
Assess current reality Crawl out of denial. Call a spade a spade. Own your side of the street.
Anchor to the impossible Draw a line in the sand and declare your intentions.
Rehab as a lifestyle Walk your way back. Do the reps. No matter what. Your character hinges in the balance.
Why wait?