“The game is afoot.” PRT - 1:06

Dang (politically more correct)! It hurts like hell (politically less correct) to walk with an Achilles Heel injury. Me and Achilles are leaving for Berlin tonight. For 6 months I have been limping along enduring various levels of pain and discomfort. On behalf of 1) looking for relief, 2) finding anything redeeming and/or relevant to write about this affliction and 3) after a day of activity, including recently traipsing through Mayan ruins in Guatemala and shooting hoops with some 10-year-old boys... I turned to that bastion of wisdom with THE answers and (may I add) THE absolute truth about everything important in the cosmos:

The Wiki (not to be confused with a Wookie) of Pedia, states:

Mythological Relevance

1. An Achilles’ Heel is a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength, actually or potentially leading to downfall.

2. Achilles died from a heel wound as the result of an arrow—possibly poisoned—shot by Paris (c’mon, now stop it! Not Paris Hilton).

3. The use of “Achilles’ heel” as an expression used for “area of weakness, vulnerable spot” dates only to 1855 (Merriam-Webster).

Now self-diagnosed with "literary depression," I turned to the other sage for solving anything and everything medical: The great and wonderful Roman healer: WEBtavius M.D. He states:

What Can Cause Achilles Tendon Injuries?

An Achilles tendon injury might be caused by:

• Overuse
• Stepping up your level of physical activity too quickly.
• Not stretching enough before exercise.
• Wearing high heels, which increases the stress on the tendon.
• Problems with the feet and can result from flat feet, also known as fallen arches or over-pronation.
• Muscles or tendons in the leg that are too tight.

So what? As leaders, followers, learners and livers (not in the anatomical sense) we should consider:

• If Merriam & Webster have defined this condition of “inflicted limping ” since 1855, think it is something we should pay more attention to? Ever find yourself limping painfully as an outcome of not stretching enough before exercising your idea, strategy or decision?
• Might it be the time to change pace or direction when we find that stepping up our level of physical activity too quickly (by reacting too soon to that “slam dunk” or “gotta do it right now” opportunity) has caused unbearable pain from the resulting (mis)steps?
• When we feel problems as an outcome of operating too tight, think it’s time to check our pronation? Could be time to quit; when things are bad and good enough (a symptom often experienced from not knowing when to get off our high heels of pride, arrogance, fear or unwillingness to listen to someone else’s idea or suggestion.

Achilles wisdom? Maybe there just might be some good sole searching afoot.

As for the rest, it's Greek to me.

For emphasis – (b)