Daily Mood Quotes
Day 181 – November 1, 2011
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
~Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
How many of us knew that this quote was actually The Philosophy of Andy Warhol? Several years ago in my undergrad program I took a music and art class, my final class project was the life of Andy Warhol. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he grew up to be a noted American artist (his work is amazing) and a filmmaker. Many credit him with leading the Pop Art movement in the 1960's. In reading his story, he once said, “I'd prefer to remain a mystery. I never give my background and, anyway I make it all up different every time I'm asked.” I guess it's safe to say, Mr. Warhol did it his way.
You know as I sit here typing this morning, I wonder if maybe that's the key, "doing it his way" or maybe just a different way. We all have a chance to change things, for the better, or worse; for richer, or poorer; in sickness, or health (I know these are the marriage vows, but think about them in the context of daily life). Three years ago, my husband was diagnosed with a life-long, crippling autoimmune illness and was facing the rest of his life sitting in a wheelchair. From doctor to doctor, medication to medication and one frustrating day after another we pushed forward and we found a way to overcome the pain. Just this past summer, with doctor's approval he began walking (this was a full two years into the diagnoses). He could barely walk 300 feet before the pain was too much to handle. His words “It's like standing in a blast furnace with your face, feet and hands in molten metal.” Through strength of mind, force of will, and good doctor care, my husband can now walk three miles a day with minimal pain and his quality of life has increased, while his time in the wheelchair has disappeared. It sits in the corner of our bedroom as a constant reminder and motivator.
The point is, sometimes when the odds are stacked against us, we need to change, or invent a new way of looking at our lives, Mr. Warhol did, often. It seems much of the problem revolved not around the immune system attacking his nerves, but also how much he used his hands and feet. Common sense says to use them less to decrease the pain, but the reality was that the more he walked and used his hands the better he felt, to a point. There simply is no real way to get around the pain, just reduce it. His career was working against him; he had spent the last 25 years sitting at a computer in a occupation that made that behavior a requisite. Not any more... He still cannot sit in any way, at any angle for more than an hour at a time without blazing pain. Counter-intuitive yes, but true none-the-less. Hey, maybe we should place a computer on a wall...just a thought, it makes us laugh every time we say it.
In the movie Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda (played by Frank Oz) said, “No~ No different. Only different in your mind. You must unlearn what you have learned.” and in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Yoda said to Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), “Much to learn you still have...my old padawan.”...”This is just the beginning!” You see it doesn't matter where you are in your life, Harrison Ford said, “we all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.” What you do with that second chance is a choice. My husband chooses not to quit and I stand along side him and we walk three miles a day, together.
Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.
~King Whitney, Jr.
How will you view change today?
Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading
