“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”–William Arthur Ward
I have written more than a few times about the choice we have in how we respond to the conditions in our lives. I have emphasized that we can view our circumstances as burdens, challenges, or opportunities. How we decide to view our current situation determines whether we quit, struggle, or charge forward. It is all a matter of attitude and gratitude.
Andy Lausier is the head wrestling coach at Sacred Heart University. Coach Lausier is not one to shy away from a challenge. His coaching credentials are impressive: the first head wrestling coach at Stevens Tech (where he took the team to three NCAA appearances in four years), four years as an assistant at Princeton during the rebuilding of the program, and, most recently, accepting the head coaching position at the (then) “worst” D-I program in the country—Sacred Heart. As if the challenge of building a solid D-I program is not enough, Coach Lausier recently completed an incredible feat to raise funding and awareness for his team. He rode an amazing 1119 miles from Fairfield, Connecticut to St. Louis, Illinois in seven days!! In case you are not inclined to do the math, that is an average of 160 miles a day on a bike! His longest ride was 175 miles.
On the sixth day of the trek, Coach Lausier hit a point of near-complete physical and motivational breakdown. At this point, he had a choice. In the moment of assessing this choice, he recognized that he was focusing on the “haves” (e.g., “I have to finish this”). In true Andy Lausier style, though, he shifted his mindset to focus on the “gets”. He reflected on the fact that he has the physical opportunity to ride a bike—something that many, because of physical limitations, cannot. This simple shift in attitude and gratitude got him back on the bike to finish the day and to get back on for the final ride of day seven.
We all have our challenges. It may not be to complete a 160-mile cycling day (or 1119-mile week!), but we will undoubtedly have our own moments of decision. Andy refers to this as turning the “haves into gets”. Indeed, one’s attitude shapes one’s attitude. We decide.
Taking the time to start our day with thoughts of gratitude will have a profound effect on the rest of the day. Practicing a habit of looking at the opportunities we are given shifts our focus and our energies in a positive direction. This is “carpe momento”.
Andy’s seven-day voyage through nine states is inspirational. There are most certainly others whose circumstances are not so self-inflicted and are instead a battle for survival. If this your situation, changing haves into gets may be “easier said than done”, but I know you have it in you to make the most of the worst and seek the opportunity that is present in the moment.
I encourage the reader to shift the mindset and be open to the opportunities we have. Live, love, and experience the moment. Go forward with an attitude of gratitude. Embrace the circumstances in which you find yourself.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow!