Day 54: Learning to Pause When It Matters

A Morning Built on Rituals

Day 54, today started earlier than usual, an unwelcome but necessary shift to get ahead. I woke up before the sun, feeling the chill in the air as I got through my cold shower ritual, which was supposed to help me invigorate my senses and prepare me for the day. After that brisk shower, I ate a wholesome breakfast that I had been anticipating all week, and then I hurriedly headed straight to school for a morning supervision duty I was covering. The day felt remarkably structured, even efficient, which is often a rarity in the fast-paced school environment.

But there was something else waiting for me this morning, a lingering reminder that not everything was as smooth as I would have liked it to be.

The rib pain that I had been experiencing on and off for some time now decided to make itself known this morning.

It was not sharp or unbearable, but it was certainly present. Annoying. Inescapable. This dull ache was subtly reminding me of its existence before my day had even properly begun, almost as if it were eager to sabotage my plans.

I had been looking forward to training tonight. I had been waiting for it all week. It was a crucial part of my routine and a stress reliever. But my body was already whispering, “We’ll see.”

So I decided to let the day unfold before making any hurried decisions about my evening plans.

A Day Without the Grind

The school day was unexpectedly light, teaching, grading, and not much else. Most students were absent anyway because other schools were on holiday. The hallways were quieter than usual, almost empty, which provided a serene backdrop to the day that was unfolding.

By midday, the administration allowed us to leave an hour early, which felt like a small blessing that brought relief amidst the routine.

I went home, prepared a simple meal, ate, and took a refreshing nap… and that’s precisely where the day shifted dramatically for me.

I woke up alarmingly late for boxing, my heart racing as I glanced at the clock. The rib pain was still there, dull but steady, like an unwelcome guest that refused to leave. And if I’m being honest, a wave of laziness and lethargy hit me too, making it difficult to find the motivation to get going.

I didn’t go to the gym, which was disappointing. I didn’t even switch to calisthenics, which could have been a viable alternative. A chest workout? Skipped entirely. Anything at all? No.

Some of it was due to the pain. Some of it stemmed from the unexpected lack of energy that accompanied it. And some of it was just plain frustration at myself for not being able to push through.

Two weeks of waiting. Two weeks of wanting to return to my routine. And here I am, still sidelined, still questioning my decisions.

The Inner Battle

The hardest part today wasn’t the physical aspect. It was purely mental. The ongoing battle that raged inside me, the inner conflict between wanting to push myself beyond my limits and the nagging knowledge that I shouldn’t be doing that.

It felt like a precarious balancing act, teetering between frustration and patience. Navigating between the urge to keep that momentum going and the responsibility to protect my body from further injury.

Self-constraint isn’t easy to maintain in a world that constantly pushes for more, especially when you’re so used to pushing through pain, discomfort, and tiring days. Stopping feels harder than pushing sometimes, and that paradox often leaves me feeling defeated.

Today, I had to sit with the discomfort of doing nothing, not because I was weak, but because healing demanded it of me, as difficult as that was to accept.

The Lesson

Some days, discipline means pushing harder, giving it your all, showing up even when it’s tough. Other days, discipline means stopping, knowing when to take a step back.

Today served as a poignant reminder that:

• Rest isn’t failure; it’s a necessary part of the journey.

• Healing requires space to take place, and sometimes, we must allow ourselves that space.

• Forcing recovery or trying to rush it only tends to delay the process further, leading to greater setbacks.

And it’s okay to pause, to take a breath. It’s okay to wait one more day, to give yourself the grace to protect the body that carries you through every goal, every challenge.

Even if it feels like losing progress, it’s actually preserving future progress, creating a foundation for greater resilience.

Looking Ahead

I’m genuinely hoping tomorrow brings clarity. Perhaps the rib will feel better, perhaps I’ll wake up rejuvenated and be ready for another wrestling session. Maybe even just maybe, momentum will find me again.

For now, I’m choosing patience, despite the urge to rush back into my routine.

Day 54 Lesson

Even on the days where nothing seems to move forward, the choice to rest is also a conscious choice to allow myself to grow. Healing isn’t linear; it has its ups and downs, and I’m learning to trust the slow moments just as much as the intense ones, understanding that both are valuable parts of this journey.

Day 54 complete. The road continues, and every step counts.

👉 Do you find it harder to push yourself… or to stop yourself when your body needs rest?