Attitude Determines Altitude

Attitude is everything. Attitude dictates your altitude. Your mind is a powerful tool for you to have an amazing life.

Clarence was an elderly patient of mine. He has since passed away, but he was an amazing man who lived to an old age. He was vibrant and had a never-give-up attitude. He had a big impact with those he came into contact and taught me many things, but the main lesson I remember is his attitude.

He suffered from severe arthritis in almost every joint in his body. He had a concoction of things that he would mix up and rub on his joints. One of the ingredients was Old Spice. He must have used a lot of it. I did not have to look at my schedule to know when he was in my office. The smell of the “Clarence concoction” would permeate the atmosphere of our office upon his arrival.

During one of our frequent encounters, I asked him about exercise. Now this was extremely difficult for him because he was wheelchair bound. In all of my years of seeing him, I never saw him out of his wheelchair. I was trying to encourage him to improve his upper body strength so that he could assist better with his transfers. During our conversation, he told me that he got on his treadmill every day. He would spend five to fifteen minutes, two to three times a day. Mind you, I had never seen him walk. I was amazed and confused. How could he walk on a treadmill? His family finally made the connection for me.

He would start the treadmill and then roll his chair to the end. He would then place his feet on the treadmill, while sitting in his chair, and pick up his feet as the treadmill turned! He never gave up. He did what he could and made the most of his circumstances. He taught me “motion is lotion.” The more you move, the better you feel.

Clarence’s attitude kept him alive and vibrant in spite of a failing body. He squeezed all of the life he could out of the body he had. He had an amazing attitude that led to an amazing life. His attitude led to correct actions and he lived high above his circumstances. He learned to accept the things he could not change and to work on the things he could.

Is your attitude about your circumstance holding you back? Remember motion is lotion. Remember Clarence. Work on the things that you can change and accept the things that you cannot.

Enjoy your journey to an amazing life!

Risk: Don't Play It So Safe

Vera was in her eighties when I first met her. She suffered a stroke that left her mostly wheelchair bound. My wife was her physical therapist who worked with her in her stroke rehab. There was something special about this lady, and she really took an interest in my wife and ultimately our family.

Her husband was a loving, caring, wise, gentle soul. They essentially adopted us into their tribe. They loved to take us to dinner and their favorite place to go was Luby’s. They had great home-cooked food (buffet-style), and we always enjoyed the food and the company.

I learned a lot from just watching them interact. I watched as he would patiently push her through the line and help her with her tray. I watched as he helped her in and out of the car. I saw the twinkle in their eyes when they spoke kindly of one another. They were constantly bragging on the other. Their faith was important to them and they really lived it. The love they had for each other and for their family and friends was self-evident.

It was at one of these many dinners that I asked Vera what she would do differently if she could relive her life. She did not hesitate and with an intensity you could not only see but feel, she said,

“Take more risk in life. Don’t play it so safe.”

Those words have stuck in my head. Many times I have wanted to take the safe road and did. But there were times when I did take a risk, a chance. Vera’s advice has always encouraged me. I have not always experienced the success I wanted, but I have yet to regret taking a chance. Even in my failures, I have learned something about myself or the process of getting better.

What is keeping you back? Keeping you from taking a risk? Most often for me, it is definitely fear of failure, fear of looking stupid, of being found out. Fear.

Fear will dictate your boundaries and can be a good thing. But it can be paralyzing. Fear of failure keeps many from even trying.

I am not suggesting that you take every chance that comes your way, but do take some chances, take some risks. Do not always play it safe. Remember what someone whom has lived nine decades of life would tell you. Take a chance!

Enjoy your journey to an amazing life.