OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
This pic of me was taken in late 2011, I was 36. A few weeks before, I underwent a major open knee surgery, innovative at that time, a “cut and paste” procedure to mend more than a decade of on going injury I first sustained whilst serving the army at 19. “Your knee will never be the same again”, “you won’t win this” these were actual “very motivating!” words of two of my surgeons whom treated me over the years.
It was also at this time that I was made redundant by the University of NSW after 10 years, my long term partner decided to leave me and just 1 year ago I took out a home loan to purchase an apartment. So here I was at 36, no job, dumped, potentially going bankrupt and a fitness career I was so passionate was in tatters. 2011 was a time that would either break me or define me.
Against the advice of my surgeon, family and close friends, I teamed up with 2 others and started on a roller coaster journey to establish Primal. 8 years later, running Primal sometimes still feels like being in a giant washing machine…extremely challenging but very rewarding.
Difficult times will always be present and the way we respond to it is unpredictable. I certainly did not wish to go through all of that but it happened and my response made me more determine, empathetic and solution focused…I think!
Today, my knees still hurt, but I choose not to let chronic pain define or control me, but rather, to negotiate with it and make smarter decisions day to day. 8 years ago, I never expect that I would be climbing mountains with these knees or helping people improve their fitness through Primal. I know that the difficult times I went through pales in comparison to what others go through, but I hope I can continue to use my past experiences to help others overcome their own health and fitness related mountains.
As the great Bruce Lee said: Ask not for an easy life, but for the strength to endure a difficult one.