I AM THIRD
Our lives, our journey, is great, if not short. I like to ask people,” what have you wanted to do with your life, and, have you succeeded?” What I’ve found is that some people are very happy with their lives, and are nowhere in the status quo that they wanted to be in. How is that? What can make that happen? What happens in a persons life that they are happy, and not in their dream world that they were dreaming about? Life has many paths, and we all HAVE to choose one to take; is it the right one? Ask yourself that. When you have an answer, then let’s go a step further, and put a number in front of your name, to see where you rate yourself. I think that this is a great reality check. Go ahead, put the number there, and, by the way, there is no judgement from this side.
Everyone has to have goals, even one; otherwise, where would your actions go? So let’s say that we have a goal, and we have a path that we want to take. Something happens in ones life, and they then have to take another path, a path which doesn’t seem right to them, to achieve that goal, and they feel defeated. I’ll admit, that happened to me in my younger days; playing pro football, (from college), just wasn’t in the cards, but that goal, which didn’t happened, made me move out here, which I had dreams of! I figure that life is not much by what happens to you, as by the way your mind looks at what happens! I always thought about living here; couldn’t be a pro ballplayer, so I got a degree, and come out here to be an engineer. As we know, that job really wasn’t for me, so we moved on to something that I really wanted to do; help others in whatever way I could. I knew that I knew fitness, and I figured that you can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lip, so that’s where I moved my life to, but who really told me back then, that in 30 years, you’re going to have a few brain tumors, and you better be in physical shape to be able to rehab yourself, so you can be a counselor to other neurological trauma patients? Did I really come up with that thought? Would anyone? Think about it; that’s why I put a 3 before my name. I AM THIRD. Very simple. Due to everything that I had to rebound from; thoughts about rehab, thoughts about my job, thoughts about my future, thoughts about my physical being, I never thought that I would have to think about any of that kind of stuff. Not the guy who wanted to be a pro player, not the fitness guy who gave to others,(and not knowing how much he was giving!), who then had 3 brain tumors. I thought I was the healthy guy! That’s why I AM THIRD! God is first, look where I was headed, but look to where I am going,( at least where I think I’m going!). A person’s start does not determine how he’s going to finish; that’s the way life goes. You just go forward with no options; as one of the greatest NFL coaches said, (George Halas of the Chicago Bears), “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it”. I love l what I do, and I am still giving it my best. I think that God had a hand in this. My SECOND; is my family. They helped me more than I think they know, in so many ways. Support is the most important thing a person can get when they need help, and boy did I need that! They were there, and hit the nail on the head, (no pun here!), when I needed it. That’s why I am Third; people gave me a hand when I needed it, and that’s when I DIDN’T think that I needed help!!! I knew that the doctors worked on my brain, but I was hoping that they would put something in to give me a hand!
Yesterday, I was at UCLA, speaking to patients to patients. I went into a room where the bed wasn’t there, a female was the patient, but the husband was there. The reason that they were there, the patient was getting a stem cell surgery. Now, I had met them several times before, they were in an area where patients, for that type of surgery, can be in that ward for 1-2 months. The couple were in their mid thirties, young couple, and I don’t think that their goals, or thoughts, originally were meant to survive the day without pain, or live a life of what others in that age range would be living. But you know what? He was beaming about some of the news that was given to him/her recently. As I walked into their room, he had just finished reading a chapter of a book, and had read a scripture, a scripture that I was bringing in for him. Coincidence? He had no idea that I was coming, he was just reading. I think that he had help, and I’m don’t really believe in coincidences. I think I’ve said this before, that no matter what your actions may be,(large of small), you don’t know what will come of it, but if you do nothing, well, there will be no result! So get out there, and do something for anyone, it will come back to you; tomorrow, next week or next year. I always say to try to do something for someone, and don’t worry if it’s the “right” thing; if you do it, then it’s right! Most people worry that their action might be a failure, because they don’t really know that person well enough; well, here’s a quote from another great NFL coach, (Bum Phillips, Houston Oilers), “You fail all the time, but you aren’t a failure until you start blaming someone else”. I love that, because it’s true; if you decide to do something for ANYONE, it’s right, it comes from your heart. By the way, I think that NFL coaches have some of the greatest words, for everything!
Now get on out there, feel good, rate yourself, and put it with your goal, old or new. No one is a failure, in my book, just try. Try to just go out there, and do it!
Scott
www.everythingisgoingtobealright.com
