As I was getting ready to play my 54th hockey game of the season, I bent over to tie my skates and I could feel a pain in my lower back that I had never felt before.  It was subtle at first, so I never thought much of it and kept going.  Over the next few days, the pain progressively got worse.  What started out as a minor 3 out of 10 on the pain scale turned into a 10 out of 10 where I was almost in tears getting in and out of my truck.  This began in February 2017.

I’m writing this from my couch with an ice-pack on my back and pillows under my legs to relieve the pressure on my lower back.  The bulged disc between my L4-L5 and the herniated disc between my L5-S1 is causing constant pressure on my sciatic nerve.  At 33 and someone who’s always looked after his body, this is frustrating and typically not supposed to happen.  In addition to the frustration, I’ve invested over $10,000 in treatment (personal trainer, ozone injections, prolotherapy, PRP treatment, etc.) and yet to have found relief.  For Canadians reading this, you can relate that this is a lot of money considering we have free health care.  There is a minimum 6-month wait to see a surgeon and it usually takes the same amount of time to get in for an MRI.  Free healthcare is great, but not always convenient.  There are times where I’d rather pay for convenience. I’m still waiting to see the surgeon and there is no indication of when that will be or when I will get in for surgery.

But there are far worse things to go through in life. If it wasn’t for countless hours developing my mindset, I’d be in an unhealthy mental state considering we’re 16 months from when the pain first occurred.  I’ve had times of relief but also a time where I went 7 weeks without being able to get off the couch or leave my bed, the pain was that excruciating. 

Here’s why gratitude matters and how it has helped me get through a difficult 16 months:

• I can’t move now but I will soon, in the meantime I can still provide for my family
• I can’t move now but I will soon, in the meantime I can still watch my kids play
• I can’t move now but I will soon, in the meantime I can still hear my kids laugh
• I can’t move now but I will soon, in the meantime I can still operate my businesses
• I can’t move now but I will soon, in the meantime I can still read and write
• I can’t move now but I will soon, in the meantime I can still eat healthily and drink clean water
• I can’t move now but I will soon, in the meantime I can still pay my bills

The point I’m making is that no matter the situation, it can always be worse.  I’m incredibly fortunate that I can work from home and still contribute to Woodworth Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Ltd. where we had our 2 best months in its 33-year history in April and May of 2018.  I can still contribute to our startup BidzAuto where we are still on target to launching this fall.  I was still able to write my first book and have it be released on time at the start of July.  I was still able to expand my coaching business and gain clients, and I am now coaching General Manager’s to help them improve their overall operations.  And I have incredible support from my family which made this situation much easier to get through.

There are few who have this opportunity and I don’t take it for granted.  If you’re in a situation similar to mine, remember that it can always be worse so be grateful every day for what you have.  You can’t be grateful and depressed at the same time, it’s impossible. Start your day with gratitude!