What A Ride

"Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming what a ride!" 


I was watching Real Sports on HBO and the first segment was about a professional football player who after spending eight years as a pro retired from football.  Most fans don't know his name, but they do remember his blocked punt in a game that brought back the New Orleans Saints football team after the Katrina disaster.  That block punt made the people of New Orleans feel they could overcome this disaster and rebuild their great State.

Steve Gleason is his name.  He not only was a very good football player, he's an avid sports fan, loves to fish, loves to travel, loves to motor boat and loves the crap out of life.  What I didn't say is that two years after he retired (he's 33), he contacted ALS.

For those of you who don't know about ALS, it's a horrible disease that attacks the muscles of your body while it leaves your brain intact.  Therefore, you know what's happening to you as your body becomes a vegetable and eventually dies because your lungs stop working.

Most people just give up when they get ALS - not Steve.  Yes, he started out angry and frustrated.  However, when he realized what was ahead of him, he started planning how he could make a life for himself as long as life would have him.


In the segment, Steve is still fishing, boat riding and traveling - obviously with the help of others.  His wife says she believes the reason Steve is still getting a lot out of life is because, from the early stage of his disease, he asked for help.  Instead of being depressed about his situation, he learned what he could accomplish and let the people who cared for him help make it happen.  he realized being macho about it wouldn't work.

Steve quoted: "I don't focus on what my body can't do, I focus on what my body can do.  He knows he soon won't be able to write or type on a computer.  Therefore, he's learning how to use a special computer that allows him to type on his computer using only his eyes.  

From the outset of the disease Steve wanted to leave something behind for his infant son (yes, he was able to have a child).  He started to video tape segments where he told his son about his disease, how much he still loved life and how much he loved his son and his wife.  It was heart breaking to watch some of his videos because his voice kept getting worse as the weeks and months progressed.  

Today, Steve has a great deal of difficulty communicating, but you can still see how smart and articulate he is. He's keeps up with what is going on in the world and can discuss events as good as people that don't have his handicap.

The bottom line is, Steve Gleason believes:

"Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming what a ride!" 

What about you?  Are you playing it too safe?  Is your goal to just get through life as unscathed as possible?  Are you trying to enjoy all the moments you have left?  Are you willing to take risks, love again even though you were hurt, ask for a better job even though you might get fired, learn new things, make new friends, forgive yourself for all the mistakes you've made in your life, love yourself for all the accomplishments you've done in your life and can't wait to attack the future challenges ahead of you?

I'm a lifer.  I watched my Father and Mother get very little out of life.  They played it safe and didn't live like the saying above.  I decided early on to take on the journey face first, get the most of what my life has to offer and when it does end:

"Scream What A Ride."