Friday, November 6, 2009

The Vagaries of Life

I spent the past two days in the company of a good friend who is trying to get his life back together after suffering rather extensive injuries from a motorcycle accident. Three months later, he no longer looks like a steam-punk porcupine. He’s a bit bummed he couldn’t keep all the hardware due to the officious antics of one of the attending nurses, even after getting clearance to keep it from the attending doctor. Stay the course, no matter what anyone else says.

His attitude throughout all this has been amazing and inspiring. He has never lost his sense of humor and has been gracious to all who have been concerned with his care. With all that he has faced and continues to deal with as the road to recovery stretches out before him, he moves forward with power and determination. His strength is truly awesome and I am glad to be his friend.

If there is one thing that all this has reinforced within me is that everyone deals with change in his or her own way. Some take the lemons of life and only see bitterness. They suck on the sourness and make sure everyone knows how unfair life is, and God help anyone who dares not to toe their line. Others, like my friend, will take those same lemons, add their own sweetness and share the results with those around them. In the end, they will be the ones who gain the most because they are most deserved of it.

I have always said, “Shit happens. It’s what you do with it that shows your true character.” I choose to grow flowers and cast the weeds to the side, all the while enjoying my friends and their gifts of lemonade.

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