I wish life were easy. It’s not. We’re constantly faced with challenges, some of them seemingly overwhelming. What separates those who survive and thrive from others is their willingness to face adversity and never, ever quit. It was that spirit of never quitting in spite of an overwhelming adversity that I found in this YouTube video. I hope it encourages you to fight on and never quit.
When I first saw this YouTube video, I showed it to my students at The Ohio State University as a model for teamwork. I’ve watched it many times. The more I watch it, the more I see how it represents our need to compliment each other. Your strength compliments my weakness. My strength compliments your weakness. We make it work when we learn to trust each other at a deep level. It takes courage to let go and rely on another.
Here’s a motivational Youtube video to inspire you to give it the effort you need to take it over the top. We are never defeated if we continue to strive. Never Quit.
Fearful Of Trying Something New? Take heart from a young girls courage to conquer her fears.
I viewed this video on YouTube and the lessons offered by the Navy Seal commander at the 2014 University of Texas commencement are powerful motivators for anyone who wants to make a difference in the world.
“Your hammies a bit tight, Ray?”
“Cut me some slack, Y. I’m stretching. Getting ready to do my sleeping baby, then the happy baby….”
“Who came up with these names? The brainchild of a creative writing class? It sounds more like a group of your species after happy hour. Speaking of names, I’ve changed mine.”
“Why?”
“No, I’m not Y. I said I changed it.”
“Why, with a W and an h and a y.”
“My fans said your riding this pony into the ground. You need to come up with something a bit more original. So, I changed it to M because it rhymes with gem.”
“You’re a gem alright. Zirconium.”
“Oh, touchy. Can you pull your yoga strap a little tighter?”
“I’ll tear my quad or hamstring or bicep or deltoid.”
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
“No clue. But I think I’ll look cool when I walk into the gym with my yoga mat and yoga strap.”
“Are you going to join a yoga class?”
“Not unless they have a fantasy football league this fall.”
“So, you’re trying to be cool instead of flexible?”
“I’m flexible enough. I let you hang around the blog. I call that flexibility.”
“Good point. Why don’t you leave the mat and strap at the gym tomorrow before you hurt yourself.”
“Every once in a while, you have a good thought.”
Life comes at us fast with changes and challenges requiring us to stretch and learn things we’d just as soon not learn. If we’re not flexible, we hold ourselves back from the possibilities that await us. Flexibility helps us to grow, renew, and recreate ourselves.
I love my birthday. I love Christmas. I love surprise gifts. I enjoy giving gifts and seeing eyes light up. And, I enjoy receiving them as well – except for the one’s I re-gift. I don’t like to re-gift too often because my memory may trick me and I’ll re-gift to the giver. A wrong re-gift has all the makings of a relationship disaster.
When I give a gift, I think about the person to whom I am giving a gift. I want to make it special. When I can’t think of something special I fall back on a reliable, can’t miss, hit a homerun everytime gift: A Starbucks gift card. It’s only failed me once when I mistakenly gave it to a friend who later told me she only drinks herbal tea. I told her Starbucks sells herbal tea, she gave me a look that said she doesn’t do Starbucks and, “This relationship is over.”
Kids under the age of 12 are pretty easy to please. Once they hit the teens, God help them, and God help me in the gift buying department. If they have an iPhone, I gift an iTunes card. Oh, my backup? A Starbucks card.
Is a Starbucks card the answer to all problems in life? I’ve got to think more about this possibility. Maybe I’ll give myself a Starbucks card. No, I already have the app on my iPhone and collect stars. Here’s a question for you. I collect Starbucks stars, I have lots of them. Are they still stars if the iPhone records them in some form of cryptic code? If they are in cryptic code, are they real stars? I think I’ve had one too many cups of coffee this morning.
I began this blog talking about gifts. Each of us is a gift when we give the gift of ourselves to others. Our gift to others takes on extra meaning when it is received by a grateful heart. The more we give the gift of our self to others, the more we discover our true mystery and destiny.
Every day is a great day. “What a minute, Ray. You don’t a bad day? Are you on work release from a rehab center?”
“What a minute, Ray. You don’t have a bad day? Are you on work release from a rehab center?”
“I’m serious, every day is a great day. Every day you can find to give you a bit joy, a touch of happiness, a hint of love. Put it together and you had a great day.”
“What about when everything goes wrong. I mean everything goes wrong.
“I see I’m dealing with a cynic. I’m dealing with a dude who’s bent over, cramped up, looks like he waiting curbside for the mortuary van. “Come on, let me see the edges turn up. When was the last time you smiled? Sing it buster.”
“There’s nothing to smile about. You watch the news? You read the online blogs? You follow politics, terror, crime.”
“I know the problem. If I know the problem. I can suggest an antidote. Don’t delay, your life hangs in the balance.”
“Hey tone it down a bit. I can hear you.”
“You kidding me. It’s a great day and tomorrow has all the making of an even better day. And, I’m FDA approved.”
“Are you dangerous? Or, simple minded?”
“I’m neither depressed dude. Here’s the deal. It’s your diet. Plan and simple. I’m putting you on a one month diet. It’s rough. You’re going cold turkey. Actually, cold turkey is better than turkey left out on the cabinet for a week.”
“I’m suffering enough. How much longer do I have to listen to you?”
“I’m doing the writing, so you’ll have to hang around as long as I want you to hang around.”
“Let’s get it over so I can rest.”
“No listening to cable news shows. No listening to the talking heads who think they have every answer. Watch the comedy channel. Read inspiring books. Take extended walks in nature. Meet every one of your neighbors. And, most importantly, do two kind acts a day. Do it all for a month and you’ll be The dude, not a depressed dude.”
“Do I have to?”
“Afraid so. If you don’t, I’ll bring you back in the next blog.”
“I’m on it.”
I had a German Shepherd. Her name was Gypsy. One of my daughters painted a portrait of Gypsy I keep hanging on a wall. If you’ve had a pet you’ve considered a friend, you can understand the relationship I had with Gypsy.
She was an athlete. She could run with the wind. Catch Frisbees tossed at seemingly impossible angles. I’d toss a tennis ball sixty feet in the air and she’d snag as if she were playing centerfield in the majors. Most of all, Gypsy was a friend. Where I’d go, Gypsy wouldn’t be far behind. I’d often go in the yard with Gypsy to relax. She had a way of helping me forget work and setting aside other things holding my mind captive.
Today, I picture Gypsy lying on the ground in front of me. She has a look in her eye, partly mischevious, partly playful, and always loving. In my mind’s eye, I ask Gypsy, “Tell me about life, Gypsy. You enjoy every moment. What’s your secret?”
Gypsy cocks her head a bit to the side and gives me a quizzical look. She says, “Ray, what’s all the fuss? Lighten up.”
“Easy for you to say Gypsy. Cut me a little slack.”
Gyspy shakes her head, “I’m going to give you special dog secrets.”
I look incredulously at her, “Dog secrets?”
“That’s right, dog secrets. Heads up. If you nod off, I’ll wake you with a ferocious bark.”
“I’m all ears, don’t take that remark personally.”
I think she is smiling. Some claim dogs don’t smile, but I believe Gypsy smiled all the time.
Gypsy says, “Don’t interrupt me. I’m giving you wisdom that’s evolved in the canine breed over ions.”
“I’m waiting.”
“Whenever you get a chance, curl up in the sun and enjoy its warm rays. If you can do it on the sofa, all the better. When someone you love comes through the door, meet them, greet them, and hug them. Whatever food is served, be grateful for it, it’s all good and it’s all going to the same place. Get exercise – plenty of it. Exercise is always better when you’re doing it with someone you love. Most of all, enjoy the moment. Don’t think ahead. Tomorrow comes quick enough. And, be loyal, protect those you love. After all, we’re family. It’s all good, Ray. It’s all good,
Thank you, Gypsy. Thank you for your enduring wisdom.
Well before talk of walls and pathways to citizenship, I met Consuelo Garcia (the first name is real, I kept the second name private). Consuelo is an American citizen by birth. Her parents crossed into the U.S. somewhere along the Rio Grande illegally. She was born two years after her parents settled in San Antonio. The first of seven children. When I met Consuelo, she was 35 years old.
Consuelo’s father worked as a day laborer getting jobs wherever he could find one. Her mother worked as a maid in the homes on the North side of San Antonio. I relate Consuelo’s story as she told it to me.
Consuelo was an excellent student. In high school, her GPA was 4.0. (My note: I only saw a 4.0 in a dream). She never received a grade lower than an A in all her college prep courses. In the fall of her senior year, she went to her guidance counselor to seek advice on how to apply to college. The counselor said, “The girls in this school (98% Mexican-American) get pregnant and get a job. That will probably happen to you. Let’s talk about the kind of job you want.”
Consuelo walked out of the counselor’s office crying. That night she told her parents what happened. Her uneducated father and mother were angry. They told her they would take her to university and find out how to apply. The next morning, Saturday, they drove to campus. Not much was happening. All offices were closed. They walked around campus and found the library. The entered the library. A staff member saw the bewildered look on their faces and asked if she could help. Consuelo spoke to the staff member (her parents’ English was limited). The staff member brought her application materials and made sure she understood what she had to do.
Four years later, Consuelo graduated from the University magna cum laude. I met Consuelo in my graduate level Change Class. She was and is a remarkable woman of courage.
Consuelo’s story is one of courage, tenacity, and believing in dreams.
Today, I will continue to believe in my dreams. I will have the courage and tenacity to chase them, no matter the challenges. Hoping you do the same.
