I woke up, eased out of bed, shuffled to the restroom, and gobbled a half-dozen Tylenol. No workout or bike ride today. In fact, it would be several days before I could take a short walk. The day after my hernia surgery, my momentum vanished, and six months later I’m still trying to restart it.
“Sometimes thinking too much can destroy your momentum.” ~ Tom Watson
Momentum isn’t a luxury; it’s the engine of physical and mental well-being, and losing it can be costly. Protecting it is vital, but sometimes, because of circumstances, we lose it, and rebuilding it can be difficult. Before the surgery, I had been following a fitness routine for several years, and the shock of losing that rhythm has rippled throughout my entire being.
For several weeks, I didn’t fully grasp the true cost of lost momentum. I followed the doctor’s orders, stayed out of the gym, and slowly increased my walking until I got back to my ten- to fifteen-thousand-steps-a-day, but walking is only one piece of the puzzle. Half a year later, I am completely healed but struggling to regain my momentum. It’s Newton’s First Law: an object in motion stays in motion; an object at rest stays at rest.
“Momentum begets momentum, and the best way to start is to start.” ~ Gil Penchina
It’s like a campfire. Once the fire is going strong, you can put a damp log on the hot coals; it steams for a while as the water evaporates, then bursts into flames. But try to get a dozen damp pieces of kindling to light without a flamethrower, and it’s nearly impossible. Sort of like Sisyphus pushing a rock up a hill for eternity.
I hadn’t given it much thought before, but it’s clear now. Losing momentum comes at a huge cost. Restarting it is an order of magnitude more difficult than maintaining it. Stopping and starting creates stress and is metabolically and psychologically costly; each full stop increases the friction of the next start.
“Momentum builds success.” ~ Suzy Kassem
When the body stops moving, mood dips, clarity fades, and spiritual practices are often harder to access. I’ve learned some good lessons too, though, as I have worked to recapture the flow. Progress, not perfection, for instance. In the old days, I would have forced the old routine with willpower, but that doesn’t work when you’re broken. Baby steps are what’s required. Willpower is a limited resource, especially while healing.
Momentum isn’t about never stopping; it’s about knowing how to start again. The healing body, the mind relearning consistency, and the spirit re-anchoring can all move forward together—one step at a time. The new habits I’ve built through struggle might become more sustainable and more integrated than those surgery interrupted. 3MPH is “the speed of life”; slow down and be gentle with yourself. And hang out with people who have momentum – it rubs off.
“May you have the courage to begin; the patience to persist; and the strength to finish.” ~ Michael Bassey Johnson
