Sunday, October 8, 2017

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2008. Mattie was a month into treatment. On this particular occasion, Mattie was home between treatments and his good friend, Zachary, came over to visit. In preschool, Mattie and Zachary were inseparable and were the closest of friends. Though they went to different elementary schools, they still remained close with each other. Their special bond was not something that could be broken by geographical distance or even cancer. Zachary remained a true friend to Mattie throughout his battle. That day, Mattie took out his remote controlled boats, threw them into his kiddie pool, and decided to play. Zachary learned over time what activities Mattie could and couldn't do, and truly accommodated Mattie's needs. This is noteworthy to mention, because prior to cancer, Mattie and Zachary were very energized, ran around, and were physically active. After Mattie was diagnosed with cancer, his ability to do what he once did, was severely limited. Yet these friends found a way to continue playing. 

Quote of the day: I’m not worried that you’ll be successful. I’m worried that you won’t fail from time to time. The person who gets up off the canvas and keeps growing, that’s the person that will continue to grow their influence. ~ Rick Rigsby

Today I received an email from one of my friends who also happens to be a former graduate school student of mine. She sent me a video that was entitled.... an amazing video. I clicked on the link (which I attached below) and watched this nine minute long video by Rick Rigsby. I had no idea who Mr. Rigsby was other than a man standing before me with his doctoral cap and gown, giving what appeared to be a commencement speech. Yet it was no commencement speech I have ever heard. In nine minutes he took you on an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows, but at the end of the day with a moral message..... How am I living? Meaning what principles guide your life, keep you going, interacting with the world, and moving forward. It is actually the perfect speech to give graduating students.... who may feel they have learned all they need to know to be successful in life. As Rigsby point out, this is clearly NOT so, because life is always about learning new lessons and being open to them in order to grow and thrive. 

So who is Rick Rigsby? He is President and CEO of Rick Rigsby Communications. Through motivational speaking, corporate coaching, books and social media outlets, Rick encourages and empowers audience members to become great people who do great things. The San Francisco native is a former award-winning journalist, who followed a television news career with six years of graduate school—culminating with a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. A college professor for two decades, Rick spent most of those years at Texas A&M University, where he also served as character coach and chaplain for the Aggies football team.

When you hear Rigsby talk, you can hear the coach and the minister in him. He delivers a powerful punch in a very humorous, sometimes serious, but poignant manner. What intrigued me about his talk was his discussion of loss and how this nightmare influenced him and became a part of his life. It seems that he was telling us that when you hit rock bottom, it forces and tests your courage, strength, and determination as a human being. As his dad shared with him, three little words... Keep On Standing! Some days, just trying to stand, is about all that can be accomplished. His dad could have said... I love you, your wife loved you, you carry your wife's memory in your heart, or something else that would be equally trite. But when dealing with a crisis and trauma, trite doesn't cut it. You need to go back to the physical basics. Which is why.... Keep on Standing, resonated with me. It's a nine minute speech worth listening to!

The wisdom of a third grade drop out will change your life:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRa0iqKZMvk