Mountains began to consume my thoughts. Secretly, I wanted to do something significant to help change the image that image that friends and family had developed of me.I had been cast in the role patient.In spite of being very good in that role,I hated begin a patient and desperately wanted to change my image.I wanted bruises to be earned from sports-related activities, not from needle pricks and aspirin-thinned blood.At this stage,my self-image was as important to my well-being as anything else .If,I figured, I could rebuild my strength and regain at least some of my former athleticism,an improved image would naturally follow.