Chapter 40
WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?
Since most of this book has been written in chronological order, I kept feeling tempted to make Chapter 40 the final chapter. Although my first book contained 66 chapters, and my initial inspiration for this book was 66 chapters, I felt comfortable bringing it to a close at 40.
I thought, The reader can read one chapter per day, and create their own little “40 days in the desert” experience. Hopefully, at the end of the 40 days, they’ll feel like a new person.
I’ve been stuck all day, wondering if I should write the “Forgiveness” chapter and be done with the book, or if I should continue writing. So I did what any reasonable human would do: I consulted my Facebook friends. My post read: “Dearest Facebook Fam, I need your help. Pick a number: 40 or 66.” Within the next five minutes, Diane Thomas, James Spence, Emily Mason, and Martrelle Sykes all responded in unison: “66.” Those responses, in conjunction with another “God wink” from earlier this morning sealed my decision: I must press on towards chapter 66.
In the last chapter, I talked about the evening of Easter 2009. Although I still don’t know what really happened on that night, I came away with a new sense of appreciation for the ability to walk. I’ve learned to appreciate the ability to watch television without squinting. I can once again sit in front of my computer monitor without my eyes hurting, or experiencing a migraine. They’re all simple things; simple things we often take for granted.
If you were blind, how much money would you be willing to pay for the ability to see? Would you rather be a blind millionaire or a financially “poor” person with the ability to see? Before the events of Easter 2009, I took my ability to walk for granted; I took my perfect vision for granted. Too often, we don’t appreciate our real “riches” until they’re taken away.
Most of us are fully-functioning humans, with no real disabilities. We may experience soreness from time to time, maybe a headache here and there, but for the most part, we’re already “rich.” We don’t have to worry about starving to death, and most of us have a place to sleep comfortably at night. Think about the humans suffering as a result of the earthquake in Haiti. Water is one of the most “valuable” commodities. We waste water like nobody’s business. We’re already so fortunate; we just forget most of the time.
Which brings me to the story of a young man named Dan Caro.
I was watching one of my favorite speakers, Dr. Wayne Dyer, on his yearly PBS special. This year’s lecture was titled “No Excuses.” In fact, Dr. Dyer was wearing a “No Excuses” T-shirt in the last photo we took together.
Dr. Dyer brought Dan on stage after sharing his story. When Dan was just two years old, he was involved in a freak accidental explosion. After spending months in the hospital, the doctors were finally ready to remove Dan’s bandages. What was left of his hands and feet just fell off.
Dan began to describe the challenges he faced as a kid: Dan’s entire face and body had been burned, and this attracted a lot of unwanted attention. We all know how insensitive and cruel kids can be. Can you imagine what it would feel like to be stared at everyday—everywhere you went?
Dan described his “ah-ha” moment, when he was 12 years old: He tied his own shoe for the first time. Most kids master this task in kindergarten, but Dan had never been able to tie his own shoe. Having zero fingers—and only a thumb on his left side—makes the “simple” things (like tying shoes) much more challenging. After finally tying his own shoe, Dan felt like a new world of possibilities had emerged. Somebody asked him what he wanted to do next …
Dan’s response? “I wanna play the drums.”
From that moment forward, Dan dedicated his life to developing a way to play the drums—with no hands. He slides the drumsticks into wristbands on each arm. He tightens the drumsticks with rubber bands.
Dan Caro plays the drums without any hands. He plays the drums quite well—without any hands. He can certainly outplay me—and I have hands.
When Dan was speaking, he said he never thinks of his “disability” as a curse. He says he sees it as a “gift from God.” He says, “If that accident had never happened, I wouldn’t have been able to use my story to touch so many lives in a positive way.”
Wow.
Dan Caro “gets it.” If a human being can see the “bright side” of being involved in an explosion at age two—never experiencing life as a “normal” human being—and still turn his “mess” into his message ... what possible excuse can we make?
I can only play percentages, but I’m willing to bet that most of you weren’t burned all over your body at age two. You most likely have all of your fingers. You don’t get stared at for being “abnormal.” You probably have the ability to walk without any pain or problems. If you’re reading this, you obviously have the ability to see.
Look how incredibly blessed you are. Did you not get the memo? Consider this the memo.
Even if you do have an issue like being overweight, or some sort of financial concern, those things are just temporary. There is always hope for change. In Dan Caro’s case, he’s always going to have those burns. He’s never going to grow any fingers. However, he’s already figured out the secret to true wealth: appreciation for what he does have.
How could someone look at Dan Caro’s situation—and his message—and ever complain about their lot in life again? To do so would be an insult to Dan.
My Truth says ... the quality of your life improves when you choose the proper perspective. When you change your perspective, you change your experience.
What does Your Truth say?