Putting Things Into Perspective

   

     This week was somewhat a whirlwind as I was delivered news Monday morning that my cousin, Wesley, was in a bad motorcycle accident. My little brother, James, got the news from our cousin, Crystal, that Sunday night he hit a trailer and it was pretty bad, yet he was stable. She said the hospital told them that he had to have his right leg amputated and a part of his skull removed. It was hard hearing the news but was told by James that we were going to leave the next day and go visit him. That was a reassuring, yet terrifying feeling as I have never seen someone in that dire of a situation, let alone a family member. I was prepared, though, to do whatever it took for Wes and just be there, to physically be there and say something.

    The next day we took off for Houston. My little brother drove there bringing his buddy, Hampton, who drove as well so my mother, wife, son and I could all go. It was a long drive to get there, but it was worth it to see him. I will admit it was tough to see him, but it was the right thing to do. I spoke to him in a calming, positive tone, as the nurses said that's what he needs to relax and stay rested. They have and continue to do a great job there. It will be a long road to recovery, but I believe that he can make it as he is a pretty strong-willed individual and it should motivate him that he has a 6-month-old son and girlfriend. If I was able to have an extra chance at life after a harrowing experience such as that, I know I would be more than motivated to turn things around for the better, so I know he can too. This experience allows us all to gain perspective in a time of pain, as a rebirth.

    The perspective that I think of is that of mortality. To drop the old notions of fear that rupture through our psyche like a desert flood carving out caverns of doubt in our minds. Not to say that safety isn't a concern, but to reconsider our hesitation in pursuing our dreams. To stop for one moment in our ever so rushed lives and dedicate ourselves in body and spirit to the people in our life around us. Sit down and take a real deep breath and simply be for a minute. 

    I think I spent too much time in the past worrying about how things were going to end up rather than initiating some kind of direction in the present and living in the moment. This always ended in a perpetuating cycle of disappointment. I was too afraid to step further out and try something different because it was slightly out of my comfort zone. I might not have ever known some of the opportunities I have been given if I didn't just try them. That makes me wonder how much further we all can go if we just trust ourselves to learn from pushing beyond our comfort zone and reeducate ourselves on new ideas and ways of thinking. To take a different perspective on things and allow us to have an open and forgiving mind to grow and nurture more growth for our future generations.