I regularly run Parkrun on Saturday mornings, a routine that has become a much loved part of my week. Running amongst a group of strangers, I find a unique sense of connection. No one is chatting to me as I run (who on earth can even do that?!), but there’s a quiet camaraderie that binds us. I feel connected to other runners, to nature, and to myself, especially when all I can do is concentrate on my breathing as I push up the last hill at kilometre four.
Often, I see runners with the same slogan on their t-shirts: ‘The comeback is always stronger than the setback.’ Initially, it struck me as just another cheesy motivational quote, irrelevant when you’re out of breath and desperate for the race to end. But recently, these words have taken on a new significance for me.
I’ve experienced a rollercoaster of ups and downs over the past few years, both emotionally and physically. Navigating these difficult times, there were moments when I forgot what it felt like to be energised and excited about life. But as the months have rolled by this year, I’ve begun to feel more frequent glimmers of hope and joy. These feelings are different now; they’re richer, deeper. Because I’ve navigated such difficult times, my eyes have become a bit wider to the world around me. I feel like I can feel more, see more, absorb more. My senses have been enhanced.
In a society that suggests pain and difficulty are to be avoided, we often miss the hidden value in these experiences. How can we grow and strengthen, physically, emotionally, psychologically, if we don’t have any setbacks?
Reflecting on the past few years, I wouldn’t change a thing. Without those challenging times, I wouldn’t be emerging into the person I am becoming now. I wouldn’t be open to the width and breadth of life that I am now experiencing.
Yes, the setbacks suck—they are dark, heavy, and hard. We often think we’ll never make it through to the other side. But they are an important part of our process. If we can hold onto the knowledge that we will emerge stronger than before, it makes such times a little easier to bear.
Photo by Jeremy Lapak on Unsplash