Perspective

I have been on crutches for the last eight weeks.  Today I am meeting with my surgeon to determine if I am ready to begin walking.  I will still be in a boot, but walking will certainly have a massively positive effect on my lifestyle.  I could not be more excited.  I’m like a kid on Christmas.

[For those of you who are wondering, I did not have an exciting injury like a motorcycle crash or water skiing accident – just some repairs to my foot and ankle from old sports injuries.]

One positive outcome of this experience is that I have gained tremendous perspective.  At no point in my life have I ever woken wishing I could simply step onto the floor and walk from my bed.  Such a simple task that we all take for granted, but once removed from our capability it becomes a luxury that we covet.

A few weeks ago I went to fill up my car with gas and was executing my one-crutch hopping maneuver I use to operate the pump.  While standing there in severe pain feeling sorry for myself I noticed a gentleman filling his car with gas at an adjacent station.  He also was leaning heavily on one leg – because his other was prosthetic. Again a lesson in perspective.

In business we constantly stress and even agonize over trivial items: an employee who lacks motivation, a client who requires extra attention, a computer that is too slow, a lousy office space.  Remember to keep these items in perspective.  To have these challenges you must have a job, have employees, clients and an office – while unemployment hovers around 9%.

In general, the American public is very fortunate – healthy, educated, and affluent.  When dealing with challenges in your personal and professional life, remember to maintain perspective.  So I will not complain about hobbling around in a stabilizing boot, because the glimpse of perspective I have gained has reminded me how blessed I truly am.