The Path of Athletic Training

    Each of us has a journey. Somewhere, somehow we decided that we wanted to help others be safe, be healthy and heal. We then chose to learn, cultivate and discover methods and skills that would help us do so. Time and time again we use those skills so ingrained in us that they are now like a reflex.  Some of us have been a part of this profession so long it is like breathing.  It is not just what we do, but who we are.  Some of us have just begun our journey and are still getting comfortable as professionals. It is still so new, it's like a dream.  A dream where one day we watched and observed another use their skills and said to ourselves, this will be MY path too.  In the blink of an eye we woke up from that dream to realize it was our time to travel onward and start our journey.

     So passionate are we, that we continue to shape the destiny of those behind us.  We are now the ones being observed and watched.  It is our actions that cause others to see THEIR path right before their eyes. The desire we have inside of us to help others recover and be active is not enough for us. We want others to feel the joy and satisfaction we feel every day.  We mentor those on the path behind us.  We try and give them the foresight and wisdom we have acquired so that they may join us.  We must ALL be guides on the journey for there are many traveling that need our help. 

     It all sounds so simple. Yet, as we all learn, life is never that simple. The paths we travel are never that easy. They have twists and turns requiring us to have fortitude to stay on course. They are bumpy and rough at times requiring us to be strong to stay the course.   The trek is exhausting to the point we must sometimes slow down or delay our journey.  All of our paths are different.  Some of us don't make it very far down the path succumbing to the struggle.  Those of thus that continued remember fondly those we once traveled with arm in arm, helping each other along the way.  We look back on those that are no longer in our profession with lament.  We strive to find a way to not lose more in the future.

     As a profession we now look ahead at the roads in our future. Many of us with different views of what the correct path the profession should take.  All of us passionate about those views.  While we continue to shape and mold those paths ahead, we must remember the most important thing, to do so united.   The road is about to take many twists and turns.  The road is about to get very bumpy.  We are stronger together.  Forge on fellow traveler.  I will see you on the path.

#AT4EVER

Todd