Old Wounds

I want to share something very personal with you....

You never appreciate walking as much until you have to relearn how to do it. I promised myself that once I did that I wasn't only going to walk. I was going to soar.

This scar is a very integral part of my story. The remnants of a past life. One that I do not speak about often. It reminds me of where I came from and all that I am capable of.

The product of a torn ACL, torn lateral meniscus, torn anterior meniscus, and cracked femur. Who knew that the same spin fake basketball move that i had made over 1000 times in my career would be the same one to betray me?

Away in a foreign country when it happened without familiar faces, I felt like I was living every basketball player's nightmare. Just before it happened i was actually praying for an answer to my basketball burnout. It was certainly not the answer I wanted but the answer that I received, LOUD AND CLEAR.

Four long months of not walking with what seemed like a lifetime of recovery. A time riddled with depression, self doubt, and stress; my life as I knew it was over.

I now know that this injury was preparing me for my next level. Through it all I had to learn that I am capable of picking myself back up and starting over. I am truly grateful to the family and close friends who held me down through that time because it was rough.

I read that the caterpillar experiences a true death of its form in the cocoon. It dissolves itself all the way down to its very essence at which point a transformation is triggered and it begins to rise again like a Phoenix from the ashes, stronger than ever before.

I felt like this was important to share this now in these times for people that may be feeling discouraged by the changes taking place in the world. There is no doubt that COVID-19 will leave a lasting scar on our world. What matters most is how we move forward in our recovery.

Though the transformation happens differently for everyone; we are all meant to experience this journey in order to evolve. You should know that even when it may seem like your life is over it is really just beginning anew.

Stay strong, stay positive, stay blessed.

Love,

Cole