Reckless

Each week I face the thorn trees, and a part of me can't help but be exhilarated as I put my arm in front of my face, and dare to hope a few of the thorns catch. For a long time, injuries have been my way of gauging performance.
One thing I re-learn about myself each week is that I am far more reckless with my body than I used to be. When I was younger, I was very particular about my clothing and body. If clothes were wet, they needed to be switched. If there was a stain, they needed to be changed. I was really careful, and never engaged in risky behavior (ironically, that did nothing to prevent 3 broken arms).
Fast forward to my mission, as my trainer and I warm up on a soccer field. The ball whooshes past me, and Elder Westbrook goes racing after it. I can tell by his grin that he's not going to stop, even though I'm directly between him and the ball. A moment later, I'm tumbling on the ground. I manage to turn my fall's momentum, and use it to roll and kneel. Elder Westbrook pulls me to my feet, grinning from ear to ear. It's contagious, and I find myself smiling too. "Whoa, tiger!" He exclaims. "I wasn't expecting that from you, big guy. Normally people like you are afraid to get touchy feely."
I remember the feeling of pride that swelled within me when he said that. I subverted his expectations. I astonished him. And I noticed, that I was tracking my diligence in sports by whether or not I ended up on the ground. If I got hurt, then I knew I was giving my all, and I could feel good about the game.
I still have that habit, and it may be bleeding into my work. I'm not afraid to get hurt. I'm not afraid of the trees that pull my skin, the branches that punch my shoulders, or the bushes that claw my legs. If I get hurt, it just shows I'm committed. As I've gotten older, I've become more reckless, and I think I'm okay with that.