A couple of weeks ago, I was in Oklahoma City for a coaching event, and our coach decided to put us through an exercise that sounded simple enough.

Wall sits.

If you’ve never done one, imagine sitting in a chair, except someone stole the chair. Your back is pressed against the wall, your knees are bent, and your legs are doing all the work.

Our assignment? Hold that position for one minute.

Our coach kept repeating, “You can do anything for one minute. It’s mind over matter. Tell yourself you’re fine, and stay there.”

Sounds easy, right?

Well, a bunch of us failed the first time.

So what did he do? He made us get up and run a lap.

Then we came back and tried again.

This time, everyone was holding strong. Everyone except me.

With just 15 seconds left, my legs gave out, and down I went.

Guess what happened next?

Everybody got up and ran another lap.

We came back for round three. Our coach kept encouraging us, reminding us that we were capable of more than we thought.

And this time, every single one of us made it through the full minute.

Including me.

The Lesson Followed Me Home

That experience stuck with me.

How often do we convince ourselves that we can’t do something before we’ve actually discovered our limits?

We tell ourselves we’re too old, too out of shape, too tired, or too far behind.

And sometimes, we believe those stories so completely that we stop trying.

Last week, I decided to test one of those stories.

I’ve never considered myself much of a runner. In fact, when I’ve participated in group workouts, I’ve often found myself falling behind.

But I wondered: How far could I actually run if I stopped worrying about everyone else’s pace and simply kept going?

So I went outside and ran.

And ran.

And ran some more.

When I finally stopped, I’d gone half a mile without stopping.

Now, for some people, half a mile isn’t particularly impressive.

For me?

It was a victory.

Not because I’d suddenly become an amazing runner. Not because I’d broken any records.

But because I’d done something I wasn’t sure I could do.

It’s Not Always About Going Farther

Here’s what I’m learning: resilience isn’t about pretending that something doesn’t hurt or that our bodies don’t have limits.

It’s about recognizing the difference between genuine limitations and the discomfort that comes with growth.

Sometimes we need to rest. Sometimes we need to slow down. And sometimes we need to stop telling ourselves we can’t and discover what happens when we try.

The same principle applies to taking care of our health.

Maybe you’ve been putting off exercise because you don’t think you can do enough to make a difference.

Maybe you’ve been dealing with stiffness, poor posture, or limited mobility for so long that you’ve accepted it as your new normal.

Maybe you look at where you want to be and feel overwhelmed by how far you have to go.

But you don’t have to run a marathon today.

You just have to take the next step.

A five-minute walk. A few stretches. A commitment to move a little more consistently. Getting help with a problem you’ve been ignoring.

Small steps matter. And those small steps, repeated consistently, can lead to meaningful changes.

My Half-Mile Challenge to You

I’m not asking you to go run half a mile.

I’m asking you to identify one thing you’ve been telling yourself you can’t do.

Then ask yourself whether it’s truly impossible—or whether you’ve simply stopped trying.

Start where you are. Respect your body’s limits. And give yourself permission to improve.

As for me, that half mile is just the beginning.

I’m not sure how far I’ll eventually run, but I know one thing:

I’m not going to let yesterday’s limitations determine tomorrow’s possibilities.

Until next time,

Dr. Dev

Atkinson Family Chiropractic — Helping You Take Back Your Life

EXPLORE OUR HEALTH TOPICS

• BUSY LIFE, BETTER BALANCE
  • Study Hard, Move Often
  • Recovery is Training Too
  • Balance Over Burnout
• BUILT FOR REAL LIFE
  • Life is Physical
  • Stress Adds Up
  • Live More, Worry Less
  • Your Body Needs Recharging
• TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE
  • Take Back Your Independence From Pain
  • Take Back What You Love
  • Take Back Family Time
  • Take Back Your Future
• SUMMER SHOULDN’T HURT
  • Summer Shouldn’t Hurt
  • It’s Not Just Arthritis
  • The Inflammation Trap
  • Motion Is Lotion
• GUESS WHO’S BACK?
  • Guess Who’s Back?
• SPRING TRAINING FOR YOUR HEALTH
  • Why You Must Assess Before You Improve
  • Strengthen the Foundation
  • Fuel Like You Mean It
  • Train Hard, Recover Harder
• REMOVE TO RESTORE
  • Why Willpower Always Fails
  • Give Up To Gain: What Lent Teaches Us About Health
  • Consistency Changes Everything
• PATH TO HEALTH
  • You Already Have What You Need
  • Why Consistent Movement Beats Motivation Every Time
  • Pain Is Not the Enemy-It’s Information
  • Why Real Healing Takes Time
• PAIN-FREE HOLIDAYS
  • The Christmas Wrapping Posture Fix
  • The Hidden Holiday Stressors That Hurt Your Back
  • Bless your Heart & Save your Back
  • Pain-Free Christmas Morning
• THANKFUL NOT TANKFUL
  • Holiday Stress=Spinal Stress
  • The Gut-Brain Connection During the Holidays
  • Movement Over Meals
  • Why Gratitude Heals More Than You Think
• SNEAKY SPOOKY SUBLUXATIONS
  • “Night of the Crooked Neck”
  • “The Couch Curse” Is Your Relaxation Time Hurting Your Back?
  • “Office of Horrors” The Frightening Truth About desk Posture
  • “Tech Neck Terror” How Screen Time is Spooking Your Spine
  • “The Commute Curse” How to Drive Without Pain
• EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE STRONG, NOBODY WANTS TO BE SORE
  • Build Muscle Without Breaking Down
  • Train It or Drain It
  • Mental Strength Without Burnout
  • Beat the Soreness: Recovery Hacks That Work
• BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO HEALTH
  • Backpack & Screen Safety: Back-to-School Posture Tips for Parents
  • Lunches, Snacks, and Focus Fuel
  • Immunity Starts at Home: Natural Ways to Keep Your Kids Healthy This School Year
  • Game Day Ready: Injury Prevention Tips for Student Athletes
• HEALTH IN THE CHAOS
  • The Comfort Trap: How Modern Life Is Accelerating Aging (and What You Can Do About It)
  • You Can’t Eat Your Way Out of Not Exercising
  • Why Your “Healthy” 100-Calorie Snack Is Making You Sick
  • You’re Not Lazy, You’re Just Sleep Deprived
• REAL NUTRITION FOR REAL LIFE
  • Why You Still Need Supplements — Even With a Clean Diet
  • The Protein Fix: Why You’re Probably Not Getting Enough (And What to Do About It)
  • Good Fats vs. Killer Fats: What You Need to Eat for Energy & Brain Health
  • Gut Check: The Foods That Heal (and the Ones Wreaking Havoc)
• GET REAL ABOUT HEALTH – YOUR CHOICES, YOUR RESULTS
  • Your Health Starts With YOU
  • The Truth About Cholesterol: What You Haven’t Been Told
  • It’s Not About Health — It’s About Profit: The System That Keeps You Sick
• THE TRUTH ABOUT SEED OILS
  • A 30,000-Foot Overview
  • From Industrial Lubricant to Dinner Plate – The Shocking History of Seed Oils
  • The Inflammation Epidemic – How Seed Oils Fuel Chronic Disease
  • Ditch the Seed Oils – The Best Fats for a Healthier Life
  • The Hidden Sources of Seed Oils & How to Avoid Them
  • The Skin – Your Third Kidney & the Seed Oil Danger in Skincare
• LIFESPAN vs. HEALTHSPAN
  • How to Stay Healthy as You Age
• SLEEP SECRETS
  • The Secret to Sleeping Better: It Starts with the Right Pillow & Mattress
• METHYLENE BLUE
  • Methylene Blue: A Powerful Tool for Cellular Health and Healing
• HEALING NEUROPATHY NATURALLY
  • Neuropathy 101: What’s Causing Your Numbness and Pain?
  • The Natural Approach to Neuropathy: Healing Without Medications
  • Can Your Feet Feel Again? How We Restore Nerve Function Naturally
• THE HEART BEHIND THE HEALING
  • My Journey to Becoming a Chiropractor
  • How My Wife’s Neuropathy Inspired Our Mission
  • How Custom Orthotics Changed My Life
  • Reset Your Gut, Reset Your Health
• FOOD MYTHS BUSTED: WHAT’S REALLY MAKING US SICK? 
  • You’re Probably Not Allergic to Gluten
  • The Power of Whole Foods
  • The Hidden Dangers of Processed Foods and Fake Milks
• FALL WELLNESS
  • Boosting Immunity Naturally This Fall
  • Preventing Fall Sports Injuries
  • Chiropractic Care for Seasonal Allergies
  • Fall Posture Tips for Working at Home
  • Staying Active During Cooler Months
• STAYING HEALTHY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR
  • The Importance of Packing Nutritious School Lunches
  • Quick and Healthy After-School Snacks for Kids
  • Boost Your Immune System with Chiropractic Care
  • Why Limiting Screen Time is Crucial for Your Child’s Health
  • The Importance of Sleep for Kids and Adults
• LOW BACK PAIN
  • Understanding Low Back Pain: Common Causes
  • Relieve Your Low Back Pain: Simple Exercises and Stretches
  • Chiropractic Care: A Solution for Low Back Pain
  • Low Level Laser Therapy: An Innovative Approach to Low Back Pain Relief
  • Backpack Safety – Protecting Your Child’s Spine
• RECHARGE
  • The Importance of Taking Time to Recharge
• GUT HEALTH
  • Unlocking Gut Health: Recognizing Symptoms & Finding Solutions
  • Revitalize Your Gut Health: A Guide to Wellness
  • Combatting Candida: Your Guide to Gut Health
  • Understanding Gluten: The Silent Intestinal Invader
  • Uncover Hidden Parasites and Transform Health
  • Discover the Hidden Culprits Behind Your Gut Health Issues
  • Inflammation: The Hidden Cause of Chronic Health Conditions
• FAITH
  • Faith, Resilience, and Finding Hope: A Personal Journey with Dr. Devin
• VITAMIN D3
  • Shining Light on Vitamin D3: From Immunity to Vertigo Prevention
• CHRONIC KNEE/JOINT PAIN
  • Unlocking the Secrets of Neurological Healing: Understanding Your Brain’s Response to Trauma
  • Unlock Your Joints: Understanding Arthrogenic Inhibition
  • Conquering Knee Pain: A Holistic Approach
  • Empower Your Knees: Exercises for Pain Relief
• SLEEP
  • Mastering Sleep Through Time Change Challenges
• LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY
  • Unveiling the Truth: Why Erchonia Laser Therapy Trumps LED Devices
  • Unveiling the Power of Low-Level Laser Therapy: Debunking Myths and Exploring Healing Potential
  • Unleash Your Athletic Potential: The Power of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
• NEUROPATHY
  • Empowering Relief: Customized Care for Neuropathy
  • Symptom Relief vs. Root Cause: Neuropathy Solutions
  • Nerve and Spine: Understanding Neuropathy vs. Radiculopathy
• VAGUS NERVE
  • Optimizing Health: Chiropractic Care and the Vagus Nerve Advantage
  • Lighting the Path to Wellness: The Promising Role of Low-Level Laser Therapy in Vagus Nerve Health
  • Harmony in Motherhood: The Transformative Power of Whole-Body Vibration and Vagus Nerve Health
• OOLA GOALS
  • Balancing Life’s Symphony: The Oola Approach to Holistic Goal Setting
  • Unlocking Success: The SMART Way to Set and Achieve Your Goals
• WEIGHT LOSS
  • Transform Your Health: Discover the Blueprint to Sustainable Weight Loss!
• CANCER PREVENTION
  • The Power of Prevention: Uniting Against Cancer for a Healthier Tomorrow
• GETTING COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE
  • Challenging Yourself Can Boost Your Immune System
  • Discover the amazing health benefits of sweating in an infrared sauna!
  • The health benefits of cold plunge therapy
  • The Power of Pause: Unveiling the Health Benefits of Fasting
  • Embracing Temporary Soreness: The Normal Response to Chiropractic Adjustments
• MIGRAINES
  • Managing Migraines Through Weather Changes
• NEUROPATHY
  • Understanding Neuropathy: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
  • Can Peripheral Nerves Heal from Neuropathy?
• LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY VS. OPIOIDS
  • Low-Level Laser Therapy – An Alternative to Opioids for Pain Management
• METABOLIC DISEASE
  • Understanding Metabolic Diseases and How to Prevent Them
  • How Long Does It Take To Reverse Metabolic Disease?
  • Understanding How Zerona Can Improve Metabolic Syndrome
• ALLERGIES
  • The Sweet Solution to Allergies
• POSTURE
  • Unlock the Power of Proper Posture
  • Stay Aligned On-the-Go with Our Mobile Office Posture Tips!
  • The Mind-Body Connection: How Good Posture Boosts Confidence and Reduces Stress
  • Tech-Neck Be Gone: Simple Stretches to Improve Posture and Relieve Pain
• MATTRESS
  • I Tried 3 Different Mattresses and This Was the Winner!
• BUSY MOMS SURVIVAL SERIES
  • Why Active Moms Need Chiropractic Care
  • 5 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress and Find Peace in Your Busy Life
  • Powering Through Life: Achieving a Work-Life Balance
  • Prioritizing Rest: Why Scheduling Time to Relax is Critical for Active Moms
  • 3 Things You Can’t Buy on Amazon That Bring Peace of Mind
• THE GUT-BRAIN CONNECTION
  • The Gut-Brain Connection: How Your Gut Health Can Affect Your Mental Health
  • How to Reset Your Gut-Brain Connection for Better Health
• FAT MELTING SERIES – LIFESTYLE CHANGES
  • Making Lifestyle Changes for Lasting Fat Loss Results
  • Foods That Cause Inflammation: An Unlikely Culprit in Your Weight Loss Journey
  • Hitting Those High Notes: Different Exercises for Burning Fat
  • How to Live a Healthy Life to Smash the 200-Year Milestone
• FAT MELTING SERIES – ZERONA BODY SCULPTING LASERS
  • Melt Away the Fat with Zerona Laser Treatments
  • Don’t Kill the Fat! The Vital Roles Fat Cells Play
  • The Truth About Losing Weight: Where Does Fat Actually Go?
• LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY SERIES – PAIN LASERS
  • What is Low-Level Laser Therapy and How Can It Benefit You?
  • How Laser Therapy Can Help You Heal 25-35% Faster
  • Is Cold Laser Therapy Safe?
• RAISING HEALTHY KIDS NATURALLY SERIES
  • 4 Tips for Raising Healthy Kids Naturally
  • Sleep Tight! 6 Tips for Better Bedtime Habits in Kids
  • Positive Discipline That Works
  • How to Prevent Tech Neck
• DURING PREGNANCY SERIES
  • Dealing with Back Pain During Pregnancy
  • Avoid These Exercises During Pregnancy
  • The Do’s and Don’ts of Pregnancy Posture
  • How Good Posture Can Help Ease Pregnancy Back Pain

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Ready to embark on your wellness journey? Contact Atkinson Family Chiropractic for personalized guidance and expert chiropractic care. Serving Denver, Stanley, Iron Station, Maiden, Sherrills Ford, Lincolnton, and the Western LKN area.