6 A - Tough Challanges

In April of 2012, I faced what became a significant challenge in my life, when I was involved in a car accident. I was stopped to turn, and a woman crossed the yellow line and hit my car head on.  My car was totaled and I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.  Luckily the only injury I suffered was to my left wrist.  For the past year and a half I have had to go to more doctor appointments then I ever have in my entire life.  This accident disrupted my life and caused me much grief.  I endured many visits to physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthopedic specialists, cortisone shots, and MRI’s with and without dye.  

I was not able to play baseball my senior year, and I was also not able to go to the gym.  I had to wear a brace on my wrist and do different types of stretches to help it.  At first I was very discouraged and disgusted with the whole thing. I was very bitter towards the lady who hit me.  When I was finally told there was nothing more they could do besides surgery, I decided that I would work through the pain in my wrist. I wanted to take my life back, and do the activities that I enjoyed doing.  I decided that this was not something that was insurmountable and that I had to be persistent and motivated to get back to what I liked to do.  I am generally a highly motivated person, especially when it comes to something that I want.  I can relate to all the readings I have done on motivation, delayed gratification, agency, and persistence. I had to apply these to dealing with this issue, which is still on-going. I am motivated to get back to doing the activities that I enjoy to do.  This relates to delayed gratification, as I know it will take a while, but it the end it will have been worth the wait.