I remember going on a bowling outing while still in rehab. Prior to my injury I
was a high-adrenaline sports nut and a very fit athlete. So, here I am, a brand
new quad, out to have some "fun" for the first time. They push me up to this
bowling ramp, I give the ball a nudge and sit there, watching the ball roll
ever so slowly down the lane. False cheers of encouragement from the recreation
therapists echo in my ears : "Look, you knocked over three pins. Great job!" I
thought to myself "if this is my new 'excitement,' shoot me now!"
Luckily, I've found ways to enjoy myself over the 30 years post-injury. One
thing I know is that if you try to compare experiences pre and post injury,
you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Fishing is a good example: I no
longer can bait my own hook or tie a lure on my line, so if I focus only on
that I miss out on the enjoyment of being in nature, the fun of being with
friends and even the thrill of occasionally reeling in a fish.
Ironically, I've recently become quite interested in bowling again. I
discovered, almost by accident, that there are ways of positioning the bowling
ball on the ramp to control the path of the ball. I can make the ball hook
left, curve right or go straight without moving the ramp. In other words,
bowling became fun again when some skill became involved. I plan to write an
article about it for Sports and Spokes.
My point is: try as many sports/activities as you can and keep an open mind
when you do.
Don.
