As the year comes to a close, I thought I would share this video as my last MKF Group Blog post of 2011. The video touches on my mAss kickin' journey since my diagnosis of a brain tumor in September of 2007 and how in the grand scheme of things I am changed for the better. The biggest change since my diagnosis was shifting my mindset from the underdog perspective to using what I have experienced and learned to help others - thinking bigger than just my individual diagnosis has made a world of difference in my perspective and attitude.
After re-herniating and rupturing discs in my lower back last fall and eventually having surgery to repair the damage in the spring, I expected 2011 to be a year dedicated strictly to recovery. However, my year of recovery turned into a year of discovery. Although I didn't even realize it at first, I spent my newfound free time away from sports and socializing reevaluating myself.
Key thoughts from 2011:
- You only get once chance to get things right; make this life one worth living
- Life is a class, make sure you put to use what you're learning (outside of the classroom)
- You can always turn a negative situation into a positive. Things can always be worse, much, much, worse
- Everything happens for a reason, even if that reason isn't apparent or doesn't become apparent until years down the road
