Do you remember the little Maple tree behind my clinic? I’ve written about it several times. It’s the one that was planted when we built the Cherokee sports complex. It must be a dwarf Maple because it really hasn’t gotten very big.
It sits beside where I park. I like to wax philosophically
based on the condition of that tree. In spring, when it buds, I think about
life renewed. In full leaf, it bursts with life. My favorite is the fall when
it turns yellow. Brilliant, vibrant yellow.
Right now, my little tree has lost most of its leaves. There
are a few dull yellow leaves on the bottom but it’s mostly bare. Winter is
arriving.
I told you about the passing of my friend Rat last week and
it would be easy for me to muse on the winter of our lives. The week before
that I told you about my last MHS football game so it might be easy for me to
get all melancholy on you.
But that’s not me. I love life. I love what I do. My 67 year
old self spent an afternoon this week bombing down mountain bike trails with a
70 year old friend and I defy anyone to guess our ages by how we ride.
On Monday, I celebrated 43 years working as a physical
therapist. It’s still the best gig in town. And despite rumors to the contrary,
I’m not retiring. Not yet, anyway. One day. Maybe.
At the end of the day, when I go home and my wife greets me
with “Joesie!” my life is complete. And when a grandchild does the same or use
my other grandfather moniker Daddy Joe…well, it doesn’t get any better than
that.
So in the spirit of reflection and meditations on life, here
are my Christmas words for you. Not advice. Not wishes. Just my thoughts.
Live the life you love. Don’t work just to pay the bills and
get to the day when you can finally retire. Things don’t matter. Yes, money
matters when you don’t have enough but I can honestly say I’ve never worked for
money.
If you play a sport, put everything that you’ve got into it.
Don’t let anyone outwork you. If you’re not passionate about it, find something
else. It can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do with life
lessons that can permeate everything you ever do.
When I played, I was a pretty good football player. Later, I
played a lot of basketball and I got pretty good at that too. I’m pretty decent
on the bicycle these days. But don’t mistake me for a good athlete. I’m not. I
was not. I’ve never been.
By working hard, being persistent as all get out, and never
quitting, I became good at those things. Anybody can do the same. I’m absolute
proof of that. And I did learn those life lessons from sports that have served
me well for a very long time.
In school, never accept anything but your absolute best. My
only distinction in high school was that I was the smartest football player.
Academics meant little to me. Yet, along the way, I discovered that I was
smarter than they had told me that I was. After that, the sky was the limit.
Seek out people that support you and support your dreams. I
was told “you can’t do that” so many times that eventually I just removed it
from my lexicon. If you’re around positive people, you can’t help but be
positive yourself. Same thing about negative people. It’s hard to be happy
around Eeyore.
Wake up every morning and take assessment of all the good
things in your life. Think about all the opportunities for changing your world
and then go take advantage of them. If you’re looking for them, they’ll be there.
Live happy. Live full. Live blessed.
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