It's the 15th of January 2012, and my body is rapidly deteriorating; all I seem to crave are the drugs that caused me to be in this state and reject everything else. The day or night no longer holds stature for me. Laid helpless in my hospital bed, detoxing due to drug withdrawal, I experienced my first seizure. Beside me sat a plate of cold tuna casserole - one of the many things I observed as I tried to recover. Day three of the detox usage was the hardest - with the whole ordeal lasting seven grueling days in all. My body was enduring the intense physical strain of an ongoing battle, inflicted by the pain medication I was taking. Relief is what I seek, tuna casserole however is disliked. If only my body could find other nutrition that would grant me that hope I so desired. Even for a pro athlete, the challenge I faced of reaching out to grab the food was harder than any training or competition I'd ever experienced. Drawing from all my strength, I was determined to make it happen. I stumbled attempting to bring my food to the microwave, struggling against trembling hands and losing control. My fingers had difficulty opening and gripping it, yet I kept trying until my body finally gave in. With humiliation, I laid ashamed on the floor as tears rolled down my face. My body trembled and my hands quivered while I scraped up handfuls of tuna casserole and pieces of broken plate using nothing but my bare hands. My soul was crushed in that moment. The nurses quickly intervened, restraining me in case I attempted to use the broken plate to harm myself. They lifted me from the ground, as I was unable to move due to my weakened state.
Only a few weeks ago, I was playing in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks with an 80,000-person crowd. So, how did I get here to this terrible place in the first place? And for better or for worse, the answer is simple: I was living without guts and using only one brain. If I had asked for a picture of the brain, you would have drawn a picture of the actual cranial brain. However, I was in fact wanting a drawing of the stomach or the gut; this is because this brain is one of two brain the human body actually carries, and the one which I should have followed to avoid getting medical condition like I do now; among other cases. At some point in life, you have probably been told to follow your instinct or intuition. Being good at this and having experience means that relying on your inner voice is often more accurate than your logical mind. I am sure you, some of my readers, also had something like a realization last week about a situation or someone, even though you weren't sure why, but was still confident about its true validity. Even the gut has power, and science supports this notion. It is believed that the two organs - gut and brain - are quite alike. They share many rather undeniable similarities. The gut operates on the enteric nervous system (ENS), while the brain in the head operates on the central nervous system (CNS). Over 90 percent of the body's serotonin is found in the gut and approximately 50% of its dopamine too, making it clear that both the brain and the stomach share more than 30 identical neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and dopamine. The ENS and CNS are remarkable in that they communicate together yet the ENS is still able to run autonomously. However, we still do not fully understand the CNS's role as it is thought to be the primary system for operation of the human body. The vagus nerve facilitates communication between the enteric nervous system (ENS) and the central nervous system (CNS). Before reading this, I was unaware of the true importance of this nerve but now that I have researched it, I understand why it plays such an integral role. The nervous system can still operate successfully, despite the cutting of the vagus nerve. Who knew that even NFL players would be giving science lessons today! The two aspects of human physiology are an invaluable source of prompt guidance to ensure we act on our best inclinations. The presence of these two receptors especially demands their ability to reach a harmony in order to avoid disruptions in the process of execution.
Yes indeed, the gut has immense importance. It performs vital functions that contribute greatly to our overall metabolic health and well-being. Scientists have been uncovering new links between the gut microbiome and systemic health just as many traditional wellness practices emphasize "listening to your gut" as a partial explanation of common mental health issues. Two years before I ended up in drug detox, my girlfriend and I were on the side of the road having car troubles. While we waited for roadside assistance, we witnessed a extremely terrible motorcycle event. But only now do I understand that this traumatic occurrence is likely what drove me to seek treatment and begin my detoxification journey ultimately. Biking at 75 miles an hour, the father and son had a shock when a car abruptly changed lanes, slamming into their motorcycle sending the father flying over the handlebars. Spiraling end-over-end, he landed with a thud onto the center median as the bike fell inertly beside him with his son still on board. Worse yet, the boy and his dad's bike were in the innermost lane of the interstate, when a car slid sideways and ran over them; the intense impact leading up to a fiery explosion. I wished that I had bravely raced to the wreckage in an attempt to rescue anyone who may have been hurt; yet unfortunately, I was far too affected by being further than 50 feet distant from it. If anything, my girlfriend, wearing nothing but a swimsuit cover-up with her flip-flops, is running towards danger and two mangled bodies - one of them still pinned under a burning motorcycle. Looking up in shock, I instinctively reach for my cell phone to dial nine-one-one in the meantime. "When I asked her why she immediately acted without hesitation, her response was Moving, showing that she had simply gone with her gut instinct and did what she believed someone should do in a similar situation involving a family member. My girlfriend exemplified the effectiveness of trusting your gut instinct: she followed it, and it proved to be the right decision! On that day, I realized two important lessons. The first: I was destined to marry this magnificent woman, and soon after I did. And the second: no matter how prepared for something you are, sometimes your body just doesn't respond due to pure shock or panic. With their phones in hand, how many drivers had already taken the necessary but uninspiring step to dial nine-one-one?
As a modern-day "gladiator," I should have taken pride in stepping up when the pressure was on most, especially since I already rose to strict NFL starting linebacker standards. However, at that time, relying on someone's else help instead of helping out directly, just didn't make sense. In daily life on the football field, valor can be displayed - but when faced with a life-and-death scenario, seemingly no action of mine should be impossible to do. Though the father lived in the end, his son did not. Instinctively, my wife acted while I hesitated out of fear - too cowardly to take risks. Rationalization strove against emotion, yet her gut prompted her into action, action that indeed saved the day. Intuition is a powerful and valuable source, yet many here today tend to ignore or override it in favor of rationality. Despite the evidence that stands for the purpose served by gut feeling, why do so many struggle to accept it? Fear can often lead us away from our true desires and instead force us to defaulting to social expectations. This battle for balance between rational thought and instinct is an ongoing struggle — one that needs to be addressed in order to find the courage we need to venture down the paths of our true inclinations. It was because of this fear that I did not act on the motorcycle crash - no matter how tempting the heroic impulse. The fear of an identity crisis led me to stuff my face full of pain medication. Football had always been a big part of who I was and playing it made me feel strong and confident. My world crumbled when I got injured, leaving me wondering what my identity would be without football; having to go back to a place in life I wasn't good at was daunting. I never had a “gut instinct” that would guide me, and instead I chose to numb myself and not step into the feelings of unknown to face any and all adversities. Raise your hand if ever being the last pick has been experienced by you. How many of you have been through that? The 2008 NFL Draft saw me get picked last, making me Mr. Irrelevant, a title given to the last pick of the Draft that rarely made it onto the teams. But I put in all I had and changed this reigning statistic as I overcame that title. My rookie season in which I became a starter was marked by success; however, the lack of a clear purpose meant it did not last. Without a good reason why to underpin my achievements, the success felt empty and was not something I could keep up.
After a stint in rehab, during which I existed without any ambition, I decided to take a year off. This really aided me in my recovery and helped me cope with life again. I woke up each morning with the intent of rehabilitating my mind and body - readying myself for a comeback to the league. What I truly did was awaken my gut - a strong emotion indicating it was time to take action. Taking the time to examine myself, I was focused on understanding my gifts and skills, gained through the experiences of what happened – in order to recognize the purpose that it served in my life. The NFL offered me a chance to return, yet instead of excitement there was something different attached to the beloved sport now, an uncertain feeling. So, I listened to my gut and chose not to take the paycheck even though it felt frightening. Soul searching revealed that this was the right path for me. I had a more pleasant feeling it was time to move on, so I took the plunge and left for Dallas. With my newly established gym, I was soon training elite athletes and business seemed to be going strong. Of course, in spite of all this my mind kept reminding me of the past. Then one day, I was tired and stressed from work when I drove home late. My worries were so overwhelming that my bad day seemed even worse; my wife had called to remind me that dinner was waiting on the table and moreover, our two little girls hotly screaming in the background which did nothing to improve her temper. I was driving through a parking lot to avoid a traffic light, which is perfectly legal. But as I did so, I saw a man in a wheelchair with no legs, prompting an immediate feeling of compassion in my gut. My brain tried to give me all sorts of rational excuses - it was late, I was tired and hungry - but this time I chose to act on my gut feelings instead. So, I slammed on the brakes and pulled up next to the man. Then I got out of the car and invited him to come work out with me at my gym. My acquaintance of the mysterious combat injured marine showed up one day afterwards, and every day for the next three months. Despite not being familiar with his surroundings, his eyes began to show renewed life, reshaping his physical stature as he found a new identity. I was able to watch this transformation over these few months by the day. You cannot create compassion without action; it is never a quick and easy process. To demonstrate this point: you can complete an act of service without compassion but cannot provide compassion without service. Compassion requires dedication, effort and often times, discomfort; it is inconvenient but essential.
The gut often has an added benefit when it comes to assessing situations and helping out; that is, if you listen to it. Tuning into one's inner signals can be extremely helpful for making choices that would both aid those in need, as well as promote one's own wellbeing. You might be in a situation now where you know deep down that your relationship isn't right, yet on paper it looks like it should be. Your head wants to believe it can work out, so you don't hurt the other person - but things stay the same. By not maintaining trust and a good relationship with the other person instead of following your heart to do the complete opposite, you're doing both yourself and them an injustice. The supply that you possess: your talents, skills, experiences and struggles - can be used to make a person in front of you with a positive difference, the demand from today's world. We don't have to be extraordinary to be leaders who change the world, though we may conveniently put our potential out of reach. Our gut can show us the way when it comes to inspiring hope in our everyday lives; if followed properly, it can guide us into becoming better people. I realized that there was a need for people with disabilities to be provided proper support, as there are over 10 million Americans who have physical disabilities. This caused me to further recognize the existing gap in services and resources available for this larger demographic.
I have developed a training methodology to measure and equip individuals with the skills to keep hope alive via physical activity. Consequently, this motivated me to create the Adaptive Training Foundation, my non-profit organization. This foundation gives people an avenue for emotional resolution and provides them a platform to reconstruct their lives. Some people often refer to me as a “sweat psychologist” because I use weights and conditioning to help my clients. We can give a veteran a home and job, but without an identity these gains will not be sustainable. Conditioning has been successful in helping them find that identity. These adaptive athletes, who have been pushed aside for so long, are now back in the game. As they rediscover themselves and proudly participate in the activities of my gym, they also inspire able-bodied people – like us – to continue setting no limits. What excuse do we have after all? At a national level, my plan is to implement policies similar to handicapped parking spots outside large corporate gyms. I envision that those gyms will have a handicapped certified trainer - progress which can be scaled globally to meet even more needs. It's important that we wake up and take action! So go and wake up your gut today, for it is the starting point of you achieving your highest dreams. Through service that ignites joy within you, help bring change in someone's life today. Thank you for taking part in this challenge!
See also: https://mygodsentangels.com/