AID STATION: No matter where you are in your life at this very moment, you have experienced adversity in some form or fashion. Perhaps you have suffered a broken bone or were involved in a car accident? Maybe you were born with one leg longer than the other and now walk with a limp. Sadly, you could have been born with a rare genetic disorder that makes the daily activities of life challenging. Could I challenge you for a minute and argue that your adversity is actually an advantage.

If anyone can relate to living with adversity it is me. In the spring of 2006, my large intestine ruptured and my body was on the verge of septic shock. Miraculously my life was spared by a nearly impossible surgery. For the first 3 months after this experience, I was mad at the world. The only question that ran through my mind was “WHY ME, WHY NOW?” The more I thought about my situation the more depressed I became.

The turning point for me came about 4 months after my life-saving surgery. A very good friend of mine visited me at home and shared his recent experience of racing a triathlon. From the second I heard what my friend I had done, I knew I too wanted to race a triathlon. All it took, was for me to get over myself and see that the world was still turning. My focus shifted away from my pain and my attitude immediately improved. I realized in that moment that I had to get on with my life. I am not proud to admit this, but I was being eaten alive by my adversity.

Now that nearly 8 years has passed since that fateful day, I can happily say that triathlon has added more life than what I could have ever had before. It just took a change of focus….