Ive got this...ok maybe I do need some help

First of all let me start by saying THANK YOU !!! To each and every one of you who took time out of their day to read that long ass essay I wrote, to every person that I know and also don't know that messaged me such kind and honest words... I really was overwhelmed with its reception and couldn't be more thankful. I really didn't believe that anyone ever read my blog, of course my mum does- but she has to- but it helps me, it soothes me, it gives me that creative buzz and leaves me feeling on top of the world, in turn if it has helped someone along their way for the day, let them have a laugh or a smile or not feel so alone.. well theres really not much else I could dream of .

I am one week away from hitting my 5 months post op and my goodness time feels like its slipping away at my fingertips. In a good way that is- the first two months were all teeth gritting and I couldn't even see a slither of light but as I'm hitting my kind of half way (lets pray) mark the train is getting faster with not as many stops on the travel and i can see the end of the tunnel up ahead of me. Like with most recoveries, that journey from the point of damage or trauma to the return of who and what you were before or actually lets say BETTER (because I am going to come out on top of this and "slay girl slayyyyyyyyy") it is hard to grasp and understand what the person is undergoing emotionally and physically unless you have experienced it for yourself. There are things that many of you are experiencing right now that I may never be able to fully comprehend and sometimes no matter how hard someone tries there is nothing like having someone who is in the same triathlon running side by side with you or having them waiting at the finish line shouting words of encouragement.

I met a boy, lets call him Dorris because I know how much he loves it, by the magic of the universe whilst awaiting to check in for my flight to LA. Not only is he hilarious, kind hearted, always surprising me with his intelligence and of course annoying but he is also a fellow ACL Veteran who has just been cleared to head back to his passion. Having someone who is a few steps ahead, understands the ups and downs, the emotions, the triumphs no matter how small and all the insanity that comes along with it has meant the world to me . We share moments like "holy shit man my knee feels like shit today, It keeps clicking and I'm freaking out. Ive definitely torn the graft again" followed ten minutes later by "Phew! Physio checked it and its all good , you were right, I'm going insane" and then burst out laughing at ourselves at the fear a big recovery like this brings. Thanks Dorris for being my knee buddy through all he high fives when we reach goals and the teary phone calls oh and also the late night salsa clubs. I also have to thank others like CJ and Sammy who have also gone through knee and hip recoveries and have shared their stories and calmed my heart and mind. To all the other fighters recovering with me like Natalie, heres a giant hug- we got this !!!

Living with my family for the first time in 7 years has been a huge blessing of this recovery. Not only have we created and shared so many moments that I have missed the past few years whizzing around for my career. They have been the ones to hold my body and heart together through this whole thing- Mum has cradled me as I've had my breakdowns, Gab has surprised me with her wise words and compassion, Dad has soothed my head when it gets too much. I cannot thank them enough for always being there and just knowing when I am having a day.

Recovery has been moving well. I ran on the treadmill for a total of 6 minutes yesterday without pain for the first time ( woo goals !) , I did my first Ballet saute, I jumped forwards and backwards, hopped and held a pirouette prep for what Id proudly say would have been 6 turns... if i could turn that is ( oh wishful thinking ). All of these good things were happening this week but I felt a dark cloud starting to stir around my head. I felt like crying a few days and thought it was just the fear of returning to dance but eventually it came to me during meditation that I felt lonely. I was overwhelmed with feeling isolated and like I didn't have any friends around me . Living out of Sydney and not being able to have a quick coffee does worsen this feeling and even though my family were there, without friends I started my slow descent back to the early days of when this all began. "No one knows what I am going through", "No one knows I am drowning this week", "I don't have the relationships I thought I did" all started swirling around my head and it all became too much. People would ask - How are you ? I'd say alright and on the conversation would go - meanwhile my mind was screaming TASH! You have soon much to say that is eating you up right now and id leave the conversation feeling worse and like that person hadn't recognized that I was hurting. News Flash !!!! People cannot read your mind, people do not know what you are feeling ONLY YOU DO and people have much going on in their own lives thats already enough to handle. Upon a phone call to a friend where I finally let go and told her all the workings of my trickster mind this week- my lesson hit me. Sometimes... you need to ASK FOR HELP!. I have never been good at this because :

1. Im Tash the Happy, Bubbly, Positive Sunflower and I couldn't possibly let myself be that negative sook

2.Im strong, I can help myself - I do not need any friends to help me do so ( a belief built up from all my friends leaving me at a young age - hey there fear of abandonment)

3. I expect my friends to see what I'm feeling

See I know these things, I know they are wrong, I talk to my friends about their same problems yet I still hadn't cracked the code on myself. Social Media you monster for making our lives look glamorous and for letting us share our best moments and often hiding the ones we dread. Yes I was happy ticking goals but thats me trying to focus on the positive and boost myself back up because I couldn't do it anymore. I learnt my lesson- I do not always have to be strong for myself and others nor do I need to smile on the outside everyday and I cannot expect things of others. Much of my life has been bruised by myself because of the devil- EXPECTATIONS. I realized I need to have the courage to take myself out of the competition and say "I am not ok. I am having a really tough time drowning over here and I need your help". Oh its like magic, I said those words and all the support that was always there was finally felt by me because I actually opened and let myself crack a little to allow people in. My friends didn't even know I was having a tough time because I was always laughing and talking positively of what I was progressing in, they didn't know I felt isolated and lonely and most of all they weren't sure whether I wanted support or whether I had it covered and would see it as a "pity party". I dislike Pity parties very much, I am a backdoor bandit for those because "sorry" and "unfair" do not make me feel any better unless you bring some cheese with you to this party. I didn't need my friends to tell me it sucks, I needed them to listen, question me about the origins and then give me a little booster to get that smile back on my dial. After finally speaking up and spending hours on the phone with my "count on your hand" friends I am so thankful to be almost feeling back to skipping down the road (still can't actually skip, but you know what i mean). Thank you to Dorris, Kristina, Dani, Dan and Meg for helping me out when I couldn't do it myself and needed it. If you are anything like me and are used to being the strong one, don't make the mistake I did, sometimes you need a little crack to let the sunshine in and trust me your family and friends will have always been there waiting on the sidelines for you.