Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:56 — 5.2MB) | Embed
Welcome to Stuff I Learned Yesterday. My name is Darrell Darnell, I prefer the window seat on an airplane, and I believe that if you aren’t learning, you aren’t living. In today’s episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday I tell you about one of the reasons I’m thankful for good health.
Friday Forum
I want you to be a part of the Friday Forum! Friday Forum is your opportunity to Share what YOU’VE learned, so that other listeners and I can learn from YOU. It can be a message as short as 30 seconds or several minutes long. It really doesn’t matter just as long as it’s something that will benefit others. You can participate in Friday Forum by visiting our Feedback Page or calling our voice feedback line at 304-837-2278.
What I Learned Yesterday:
I have to admit, I’m a bit nervous about today’s episode. I expect to be nervous quite a few times over the next month as I put together these episodes. I’m apprehensive because I don’t want to send the wrong message. So let me just say now that my intention is not to brag, ever, regarding the list of things I’m thankful for. My intent is to simply acknowledge the good things that I have in my life and recognize that they are not to be taken for granted.
Today I’ll be talking about health and I realize that health is a thing that many of you struggle with. I recognize that. However, if I am totally honest with myself (and you), I have to admit that I do take my health for granted. Having said that, that does not mean that I’m not thankful every day for my health and the health of my family.
You may recall that I once told you that I was born premature. I was supposed to be born the last week of March, 1976. Instead, I was born February 17, 1976. Being born 5 or 6 weeks early puts a baby at a lot of risk even today so you can imagine that it was even more so 38 years ago. My mom once told me that at that time, 50% of the babies born that early didn’t survive. Of those that did survive, 50% of those had severe mental or physical disabilities. Because of those statistics, I have always been very grateful for being part of the 25% that survived with no physical or mental issues.
I’ve never broken a bone, never spent a night in the hospital except to be with my wife during the birth of our kids, and I don’t require any medications, over the counter or otherwise.
I recognize that 38 is still a young age, but it’s plenty old enough to help me gain a true appreciation for life. Never has the fragility of life hit me harder than it did on August 1, 2012. That was the day that I learned my friend, Caleb Braudrick, had passed away the night before. Just three days earlier Caleb had landed his dream job. He had so much passion and love for life. In an unexpected moment his life was over. He left behind a trove of friends and family, including a wife, 2 year old son, and unborn daughter. He was 33.
A month later another friend of ours was involved in a rollover car accident that claimed her life. She left behind her husband and 3 young children.
Stories like these are all around us. Yesterday news outlets all over the country were reporting the death of Brittany Maynard. Diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor at the age of 29, Brittany chose to end her life before the disease did.
Life is fragile. In the blink of an eye a distracted or impaired driver can cross the center line and change everything. One day we may wake up and know that something inside of us is not right. In a terrifying moment the doctor could walk into the room and give us the news we feared most.
But there are also stories of people who push through sickness, disability, and pain to bring joy to others and make the best out of their situation. Have you heard about Paul Smith? He was born with severe cerebral palsy, and has extremely limited use of his muscles. Yet somehow he is able to take plain sheets of paper, slide them into an old fashioned typewriter, and create amazing masterpieces. Here’s a video about Paul.
The reality is that life has a 100% mortality rate. One day we will all be faced with circumstances that we never want to endure.
So today, I am thankful for the health I have.
Here’s what I’ve learned.
Health sometimes changes in an instant, and sometimes changes over time. But as I said before, it will change. Some of you are already facing difficult situations with health in your life or the lives of those you care about most.
My perspective is this: Every day is a gift. Some days are easier than others, and sometimes there are no easier days ahead. However, every day is a gift. As long as there is breath in my lungs I will be grateful for each day and to God who created it. And to the best of my ability, in any way that I can, I will try to bring a smile to someone’s face and make the world a better place.
I’m Darrell Darnell and this has been stuff I learned yesterday.
Check out Lynda.com for over 3,000 video courses from expert teachers who are passionate about teaching. Learn from your computer, tablet, or mobile device. With courses covering technical skills, creative techniques, business strategies and more, you’ll never be at a loss of things to learn. Visit www.goldenspiralmedia.com/lynda and your first 7 days of learning are FREE!
Follow Golden Spiral Media on Twitter at GSMPodcasts and Facebook.com/GoldenSpiralMedia. To subscribe to Stuff I Learned yesterday, visit GoldenSpiralMedia.com/subscribe. If you’ve enjoyed this episode of Stuff I Learned Yesterday, I would be grateful if you’d leave a review in iTunes.
[sc:stuff]