Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Next Step

Today was a great day on my road to recovery. I had a follow-up appointment with my doctor and received the word that I am cleared to move on to "the next step" in the process. Next Wednesday morning I will be casted or have a digital image taken of my right leg that will allow them to begin making my prosthetic leg. I will return a week later to try on a test socket and leg. As long as that appointment progresses without a hitch, I will return again in another week and be in possession of my prosthetic leg. Think about that for a moment. On March 15th, I had surgery to amputate my right leg about 8 inches below the knee, and there is a great possibility that I will take possession of my new leg, and new life for that matter on April 28th. Has that sunk into you yet? I know it hasn't truly hit me yet. To think, in 44 days I will have gone from chronic pain and limited mobility to literally being back on my own two feet again. To say that I'm excited is an understatement.

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm constantly searching for a book, a quote, a saying, a video, or anything that I can hold on to and utilize in my life for motivation or inspiration. I do this not just for myself, but for those around me as well. Tonight, I return to you with 2 such nuggets. The first is a quote by one of my favorite authors, Mark Sanborn:
“Use your past as a springboard instead of an anchor. Deal with the issues that are holding you back.”
This is something that I feel I've always been fairly good at doing, having gone through 3 surgeries on my left foot/ankle/Achilles and 11 surgeries on my right foot/ankle/Achilles (9 of which have occurred in the last six and a half years). However, I will be the first to admit that it is not always easy to look adversity in the eye and fight back. I have always tried using these setbacks as motivation to move my life forward or having them serve as inspiration to those around me. This has proven to be far better than sitting around and feeling sorry for myself, and welcoming pity from those around me.

I want to leave you with a video of man who embodies the quote above, and he has truly overcome the obstacles he has been presented with. Please take a few minutes to take a look at it, it starts with a short commercial. I think you will find it inspiring. Until we meet again, take care, remain positive, and stay strong!!!

Otis

Meet Butch Lumpkin - Golf Video | Golf Channel

6 comments:

  1. Mike,

    A thought after reading your post I noted that you commented that you had looked adversity in the eye. My thought is that adversity is always inches below you making it impossible to look "it" in the eye. Consequently looking at adversity makes one appear to have their head down. So keep your head up, stay strong and remember that adversity now has to look you in the eye! Greg.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks like we'll have to take after Butch and play 18 holes for a Chick-fil-a! Great stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good writing mcmotivation. I can't wait to see you up and moving. The thought of you chasing your girls around is well worth any adversity you went thru.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alright McBlogger, I was reluctant to check this out because I barely check email and figured I didn't/wouldn't have time to waste reading who knows what... What a mistake that would have been. I enjoyed both posts so far and look forward to the next.

    ReplyDelete
  5. McD,
    I wish that I could say that I am amazed by your progress, but I am not. I have known you for a long while, and I must say that you have an amazing ability to conquer everything that stands in your way. You have more physical limitations than most of us, but honestly you are less limited than all of us. I know whenever I face challenges I often ask myself "what would McD do?" Stay strong and motivated. JT

    ReplyDelete
  6. McDizzle,
    Another great post! Your mental toughness, although routine to you, is a great motivator to me. That video clip was amazing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Keep it up and STAY STRONG!

    ReplyDelete