Keep your eye on the goal!

As the year draws to a close and a New Year looms, its always an opportune time to reflect on what was, what is and what's possible. The inspiration for my last coloumn of the year is about a person who no longer just reflects but takes action every single day. My mate Mike had a stroke nearly 4 years ago. He was only 51 and looking forward to the recent changes he had made in his lifestyle. The stroke was severe and he lost a considerable amount of mobility and communication abilities. As a result his life as he knew it literally disintegrated in front of him. Not only did he have to deal with the trauma of going to sleep in a fully functioning body and waking up in a body that didn't work, but losing the ability to speak and write left him even more powerless. Shockingly in the months after his stroke, he could only sit back and merely watch as others made decisions for him that would significantly impact on the rest of his life. It re-inforces the fact that there is no advocacy available for people in his position, revealing a serious flaw in our social and justice system. Politics aside, Mike's experience is one of the saddest things that I have ever been party to and witnessed, but it has also been the most powerful, enlightning and inspirational. I have seen some of the worst of human behaviour and some of the best. Trauma like this will always expose the true integrity of people. I have found that out of weakness can come great strength. Mike could have easily given up on life, and he certainly had good reason too as all the things that mattered to him the most were stripped away. However with a supportive few, this man rose up and fought his way forward, forging through huge barriers that to a lot of others, seemed impossible. He surpassed all medical expectations with his sheer will and unfathonable determination and resiliency. Those same attributes also helped him fulfil his long time goal of a recent visit to The Great Wall of China and the buried terracotta army. Nothing will stop this man from achieving what he wants. Mike and others like him, often see barriers as challenges rather than limitations. Granted this always has the potential to backfire, and at times it does, but sometimes a little risk goes a long way. It can help us learn about ourselves, especially when we fall down, as we have the potential to learn the most when that happens. How do we know what our great strengths are if we arn't prepared to make and own our mistakes so we can learn from them? Who gets things right the first time!...and what is 'right' anyway? I know I've certainly made some poor choices in hindsight but it's because of those choices that taught me to do better next time. Our greatest weaknesses, can also be our greatest strengths in disguise. It's what we learn about ourselves and what we do with that knowledge that will count, not only to ourselves but how we affect and relate to others around us. Mike has found another quality of life which in part is better than what he had prior to his stroke. Hard for some people to believe I know. If you know him...ask him and he will let you know!. His spirit is now free, and don't we all want that feeling of being free to be all that we can be? Too often we bow down to the pressures of what we perceive other's need us to do, or how other's require us to behave in order for them to feel good. It serves no purpose and wastes precious time. Perhaps it's because people like Mike have an exceptional quality in that they don't ever give up, they accept their situation but yet they keep trying until they find a way through. When battling adversity, this is where tenacity can be used as a strength. Thank you Mike, and to all others like him. You are exceptional people in exceptional circumstances and you inspire me beyond what I thought possible on this crazy unpredictable ride of life, you have raised my own bar as to what I believe is possible.

If it's a legacy that you wanted Mike, well my friend you've got it!..




Merry Christmas Midweek readers and I hope the New Year brings with it lots of opportunties.




Carla is a lifestyle management facilitator

www.carlascoachingforhealth.com

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