Inspirational Challenges
Today, as I was walked out of my aerobics class at my local YMCA, I bumped into Laura, a member who I met about a year ago. She is an extremely friendly person with a bubbly disposition. As soon as our eyes met, I was greeted with her usual bright, wide toothed smile. Through our short occasional conversations, I learned she had suffered a few strokes. Today, Laura walks a little unsteady with a cane. She comes to the gym regularly for her swim aerobics class.
Laura is an inspiration as are many of the senior members. Why? Because they don’t let anything stop them from getting up, getting out and moving on no matter what physical or health challenges life has brought them. I have seen members who can barely walk navigate through the weight room. The other day, I was in the cardio room working out on the elliptical and a man using a walker entered. As he made his way down the aisle at a snails pace, I couldn’t help but wonder where he was going. A few minutes later, I turned my head and saw this man on the treadmill walking. I said to myself “WOW”.
Both Laura and the older members are a living testament to how I want to live my life. Aging, illness and injury are inevitable. Often, I think about how I am going to face life’s challenges before they happen. Thinking about what “can be” helps keep me grateful for “what is”. I make a conscious effort to utilize my mental and physical abilities to the fullest today, because tomorrow my story might change. Attitude is everything and we can choose to let challenges consume us or we can choose to fight back. I choose to fight back, no matter what.
How about you? Do you have any challenging inspirational stories to share?
