Help! Should I quit or stay

[rgtbay98]

I am a very indecisive person and I am facing the hardest decision I've ever had to make. Since last December, I've injured my knee about 3 times and never let each time heal fully and just continued to workout and push myself. But 2 months ago I injured it big time and severed my ACL and had 2 major tears in my meniscus. I had surgery and have been in therapy for awhile now but it's been a very slow healing process. Anyways, that's what I'm facing right now but my main problem is deciding if I want to go back into the gym and start that life again. I competed for 7 years and I loved it (emphasis on the lovED) and I've definitely lost some of the heart that I had for the sport before. So if I did go back to workout, I wouldn't compete. Just go back to stay in shape and continue doing gymnastics but not compete. I'm just not fully sure that I want to go back at all. There are parts I love and parts I hate about gymnastics. I love everything about bars and floor and conditioning but I don't love vault or beam. I don't want to go back and only love half of my workout but I'll be very sad to give up what I actually enjoy doing. I love my team more than anything! They aren't even friends to me anymore, they're my family. So I feel like if I went back to workout I'd be doing it for the wrong reasons- because I love my team not the sport. Also, one of the hardest things for me would be telling my coaches that I don't want to do it anymore. I don't want to let them down or have them think I'm a quitter. I'm also afraid of going back and possibly reinjuring my knee. After all that I've done to it this past year it will be very easy to injure it again! I will always love gymnastics and it will always be apart of me, I just feel that it may be my time to move on. I'm wanting to become more involved in school activities and I've wanted to be a dancer my whole life because I feel that I have a natural talent and love for it. I also have to option of teaching classes for little kids at the gym once I turn 16, this way I'd still be apart of the gym, just not have the fear of injuring my knee. Sorry this is so long, don't feel the need to read it all. Just wanted to give my back story and all the I am dealing with right now. I really have no idea what to do so please give me advice and let me know what yall think! Thanks

 

[SuperGirlmlm]

If its time to let go, you'll know.
With that said, rest. Let it heal as much as it will go. Of course at this point it will never be perfect, but it's okay. Rest, heal, take a break, take your time to think things over. Don't rush yourself to make a decision, these things take time.
You can always DM me if you want someone to talk to

 

[flips123]

I was in your exact position when I tore my ACL 2&1/2 years ago (I was almost 15 so it sounds like I was right around your age). Recovery was slow and tough and that really made me question how much I wanted to come back. Now looking back, I can't imagine if I had decided to quit. As supergirl said, if it's time to quit, you'll know. For me, I knew I needed gymnastics and I couldn't quit at that point. I know my reaction when I found out what I did also helped me decide that I needed to come back. I straight up broke down in the doctors office. Depending on how you felt when you were told could also be a hint as to whether it's time or not. Where you relieved or devastated? Or what about becoming an event specialist? It depends on your level and gym but you could always compete just bars and floor. Best of luck in your recovery! It is tough, but totally worth it.

 

[rgtbay98]

Thank you so much Supergirlmlm and flips123! We just had our team banquet and after seeing all the love of the team, I know there is no way I could give that up for anything! I just know that I wouldn't compete and train like I used to. I don't know how I will tell me coaches this but I really hope they understand. Thanks for yall's advice and just talking! I've really needed it lately!

If its time to let go, you'll know.
With that said, rest. Let it heal as much as it will go. Of course at this point it will never be perfect, but it's okay. Rest, heal, take a break, take your time to think things over. Don't rush yourself to make a decision, these things take time.
You can always DM me if you want someone to talk to

 

[raenndiva2009]

Have fun n gymnastics I had the same problem but for different reasons. In the end I decided to stay