Dear Friends, 

We have been taking a family ski trip with our best friends for years in between the holidays.  Nothing makes our families happier than laughing and playing games together for hours at night after a full day of skiing.

On our first day skiing this year, my son jammed his toe in his new ski boot while going off of a jump. (I personally like my skis on the snow!) While we were standing in line to take the lift up and do another run on an expert terrain area of the resort, he was complaining about his foot. And with good reason – big toe injuries are very limiting! Meanwhile, I was lamenting about how cold my feet were in my ski boots…God forbid I miss a run or two and go warm them up.

Then, we looked over and saw the gentleman in the picture above. Yup, a double amputee sitting on a ski scooter with additional skis attached to his arms in place of ski poles. Wild how much better my feet felt at that moment. Suddenly, having cold feet was a blessing.

The interesting thing about the phrase “misery loves company” is that when you see others who are in worse shape, it can slap you in the face and get you out of your pity party.

I hope I never have this gentleman’s experience of losing his legs. That said, I also hope to learn from his example that no matter the circumstance, you can always find opportunities to lift yourself up. In my head, when this man lost his legs I imagine that he was an avid skier. In his recovery, after the shock wore off, he had to decide if he was going to give up his passion or figure out a way to make it materialize.

That is why passion matters. This is why goals matter. Put the two together, and you can move mountains – and ski down them for that matter.

That which you focus on will materialize – be it mentally, spiritually, or physically. So mind your thoughts. Can you imagine what was going through this gentleman’s head the first time he skied down a steep black diamond run? We all have doubts and fears. The key isn’t to stop these thoughts from occurring, but rather to decide which thoughts become your reality.

Never let the negative get the last word. You may not control your first thought or emotion, but you can decide the second. 

A glance at this inspiring skier reminded me that, no matter the circumstance, you can always combine your passion and strengths to get a leg up in life! 
 

Ligaplex I : short term connective tissue multiple that supports healing and repair of acute sprains and strains such as ankle sprains, disc injuries, etc. Also wonderful postoperatively to help repair from the trauma of a surgical procedure.

Ligaplex II : a long term multiple for connective tissue that is great for chronic ligamentous or tendon issues in a joint or the spine. It is high in manganese, which is like super glue for connective tissue.

God bless ,

Dr. Dan