I just got off the phone with a good friend of mine whom I had the special privilege of calling “Team-mate” back in the mid 90’s when we were fellow student-athletes at the world-famous University of Utah. 🙂 He’s currently resting at home on hospice care suffering from a rare aggressive form of cancer with apparently only days or even hours to live.
“How are you?” was his first statement to me and I quickly responded with the words, “Never mind me, how the heck are you doing?” and what he said next completely caught me off guard and left me with a renewed appreciation of the word “Attitude”.
“I’m currently taking some steps in the direction of completing my Masters Degree with some one-on-one’s with my teachers at the University and I’m on the brink of preparing paperwork to move toward pursuing my Doctorates. Many of the school teachers and administrators are continuing to work with me.” He said. “WHAT!!! Are you kidding me?” I said. We both shared a brief laugh and he assured me that that was his main agenda and focus at this time in his life.
Wow, I must admit that many thoughts went through my mind about what I was going to say to my dying friend before I picked up the phone to call him, but he completely surprised me with his jubilant, lighthearted attitude. Sure I could tell in his voice that he was super-weak, but the things that he said in our short 20 minute conversation made me feel strong and re-affirmed in me the importance of our attitude until our last days.
Over the years I’ve learned that our “Attitude” is a tool and it can be leveraged for good or not-so-good and it all depends on what we decide. Simply put, our “Attitude” is super-important because it sets the foundation of our thoughts and emotions in our day-to-day life.
I don’t know how many days or hours my old friend has left on this earth, maybe a day or week or a month. Or, maybe he’ll have a complete turnaround and defy the odds and have a new story to tell. But whatever the case of his passing date, I can surely believe that no doubt he will maintain an awesome “Attitude” because that’s the Bronzell and know and love.
So what’s your “Attitude” like these days? It’s your tool, so choose wisely and Make it GREAT!
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