Coach to Expect Success
  • Home Page
  • Coach Daly's Blog
  • Podcasts
  • Old Podcasts

So many things to not take for granted... Quote of the Week....

7/21/2014

4 Comments

 
"Do not take anything for granted — not one smile or one person or one rainbow or one breath, or one night in your cozy bed." ~Terri Guillemets

As I got a little bit of bonus time to sit back and do some thinking over the last few days, this quote was something that came to mind during those moments.  When I read this today, I knew I had to share some thoughts and ideas from time spent contemplating life recently.

You see, I had knee-replacement surgery this past Tuesday, July 15 and during my stay in the hospital for a few days I did take many moments and thinking of all of the many things that I am grateful for.  I’m happy to say that it wasn't the hospital stay that did this for me, for I have thought about these things during other times of my life.  But it was the hospital stay that reminded me about them and I did get to spend more time taking these thoughts in and dwelling on them a lot more than I normally would have.

First thought that came to mind was my health.  Here I was having major surgery on my right knee, yet this was to make it better along with improving my quality of life for everything else; work, doing things with family, not being held back with things I could not do anymore, etc.  There is a saying that if we have our health, we have it all.  I couldn't agree more.  After seeing others in the same predicament and other issues in the hospital, I can honestly say it one major item in my life that I need to work on more in the future and that is taking better care of myself.

Second thought was my family.  I cannot say enough about my wife Susanne.  What she is sacrificing to help me during this time is amazing.  I know there are many times where we get under each others’ skins with the things we do and say, but the love, dedication and support she has given to me during these first few days it’s all been things that I have not left gone unnoticed.   My parents, at age 48 I am still blessed to have my parents in my life where I know for many others my age, older and younger; they cannot say the same thing.  I know too many people that have lost their parents and can never see them again here in this life.  I've reminded my kids plenty of times to make sure they take the time to visit with and talk to all 4 of their grandparents for that’s another rarity in life.  Being 20 or 18 years old and still having all of your grandparents around is such a cool thing that everyone knows won't last.

 My mom came out for the surgery to sit with my wife.  Then both my parents came out the next day to visit me in the hospital and I had just got done with my first session of Physical Therapy.  I was in so much pain while they were there for their visit.  They just supported me for a little bit of time and then they knew I just needed my medicine along with rest, so they took off after a short visit.  Then my wife and kids came in during the evening of that first day in the hospital after my surgery.  My daughter’s boyfriend came too, which was great.  I loved the moments I got to share with them that evening.   My wife came back to visit on Thursday which was great.  Just her and I having some time together – she even snuck in something from Taco Bell for me too.  Then on Friday, I was going home.   My parents come through again.  They came out to the hospital and helped make sure everything was okay, asking questions that I didn't, making sure we all knew the about the discharge instructions, helping to pack up the few things that I had there with me, just making sure I got home safe.

Third – the amount of texts and well wishes that I got before my surgery and after.  It meant so much to me the messages and notes I got from people that remembered that I was having this surgery.  I really didn't post anything about this ahead of time.  Maybe I should have, but I've always been a guy that doesn't like to put the spotlight on myself.  But at the same time, I figured I could write about this and maybe do some other things with this part of my story because maybe it would help someone else going through things that they are facing.

Fourth, the smiles from the staff that worked with me there at the hospital.  Amazing!  It’s been really amazing looking back in this process with all the health care professionals I've dealt with during the last few years battling this knee and other issues.  Their attitudes and professionalism has been one the key factors with me wanting to take on and deal with these things head on.  Their support, caring attitudes, time spent with me and yes their smiles, have all been a very positive difference with me and this entire process.

Another one that I actually had to do and of course it was a great reminder for all of us too, and that is counting our breaths.  I had to count taking deep breaths on a little portable plastic device that measured my breath and when to exhale.  This was set up to help displace any pneumonia scares by giving my lungs a good workout even though I was going to be in bed a lot.  So there I was counting my breaths during all the different times of day and night.  I always remember the line from Tuesday’s With Morrie, where Morrie tells Mitch that it’s a good idea to count our breaths once in awhile, it helps us to keep from putting things off that we know we have to do.  As I counted my breaths, it got me thinking how grateful that I am still able to take my own  breaths and how precious they really are in our lives.

Finally, this quote got me thinking about that first night back in my own cozy bed.   If you have ever stayed in a hospital, I think we all can agree that a good night’s sleep is not usually found there without medications mind you.  I slept decently during my stay as I shared a room with a roommate.  With medical people coming in during all hours of the night for both of us, it was easy to not get a complete night of rest.  My bed really has never felt any better than on that first night back.  

Of course there are many more things that I am thankful for, but these were the ones I connected with this quote.  How about you?  Take a few moments to count your breaths along with some of the many things you are grateful for and let me or others know about it as just by you sharing your grateful items will help others to focus on what they have to be thankful for in their lives.

4 Comments

    Coach John Daly

    In Education for almost 33 years.   Around coaching girls basketball for almost 40 years.   Looking to share insights, thoughts and ideas to help everyone find their own piece of success.

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

    Categories

    All
    1% More
    6 Inches Between Our Ears
    Ability
    Abraham Lincoln
    Abraham Lincoln
    Accomplish
    Accountable
    Achievement
    Action
    Adaptability
    Advantages
    Advice
    Affect Others
    Afraid
    Age
    Alan Stein Jr
    Albert Einstein
    Alone
    American Flag
    Andrew Carnegie
    Andy Andrews
    Andy Stanley
    Anger
    Anne Frank
    Ann Hiatt
    Anxious
    Apologies
    Arnold Palmer
    Article
    Ask Questions
    Attitude
    Attitudes
    Authenticity
    Babe Ruth
    Basketball
    Basketball Coach
    Battle
    Being Present
    Belief
    Beliefs
    Ben Franklin
    Ben Newman
    Bill Gates
    Blessings
    Books
    Bravery
    Breakfast
    Brian Buffini
    Brian Kight
    Brian Tracy
    Brian Tracy
    Brick Walls
    Bruce Springsteen
    Bruce Van Horn
    Cal Ripken Jr
    Calvin Coolidge
    Career
    Carol Whitaker
    Carolyn Gregoire
    Celebration
    Central Michigan University
    Challenges
    Change
    Changes
    Character
    Character Traits
    Choices
    Christmas
    Christy Wright
    Circumstances
    Coach
    Coaching
    Coach Jim Valvano
    Coach Jim Valvano
    Coach John Wooden
    Coach Kathy Bresnahan
    Coach Lou Holtz
    Coach Ray
    Coach Rich Popp
    Coach Ruekert
    Coffee
    Comfort Zone
    Commit
    Compete
    Compliments
    Conditions
    Confidence
    Control
    Cost
    Courage
    Coworkers
    Creativity
    Critics
    C.S. Lewis
    Curiosity
    Customer Service
    Dad
    Dalai Lama
    Dale Carnegie
    Daniel H. Pink
    Darkness
    David Feherty
    David Schwartz
    David Schwartz
    Decisions
    Defeats
    Denis Waitley
    Desperation
    Destiny
    Determination
    Difference Maker
    Difficulties In Life
    Disappointment
    Discipline
    Distractions
    Dog
    Doing Our Best
    Do More
    Donna Karan
    Doubt
    Doug Evans
    Doug Firebaugh
    Do Your Best
    Draining
    Dr. Daniel Amen
    Dream
    Dreaming
    Dreams
    Dream Suckers
    Dr. Jeff Lip
    Dr. Joe DiPonio
    Dr. Jonathan Fader
    Dr. Kelli Harding
    Dr. Maya Angelou
    Dr. Randy Pausch
    Dr. Ron Blake
    Dr. Wayne Dyer
    Dr. Wells Cook
    Earl Nightingale
    Earl Nightingale
    Edith Wharton
    Education
    Educator
    Effort
    EGO
    Eleanor Roosevelt
    Eleanor Roosevelt
    Ellen Glasgow
    Emotions
    Empathy
    Encourage
    Energy
    Enthusiasm
    EQ
    Everyday
    Excellence
    Experience
    Facebook Live
    Failure
    Faith
    Family
    Family History
    Fayetteville-Manlius High School
    Fear
    Fears
    Feelings
    Fight
    Focus
    Forgive
    Freedom
    Friends
    Friendship
    Fr. Tom Hoar
    Funk
    Future
    Gail Gross
    Gary Player
    Gas Station
    Geneology
    Get Better
    Get Started
    Getting Better
    Give
    Give Back
    Giving
    Giving Up
    Goal
    Goals
    Golf
    Good Food
    Good People
    Goodwill
    Grateful
    Gratitude
    Grave Yard
    Greatness
    Growth
    Habits
    Had Enough
    Happiness
    Hardships
    Hard Work
    Hate
    Have A Clue
    Health
    Heart And Soul
    Heart Sing
    Helen Keller
    Helpful
    Helping Others
    Henry David Thoreau
    Henry Ford
    High School Volleyball
    Hill Harper
    Hockey
    Homework
    Honesty
    Honor
    Hope
    Humble
    Humor
    Ideas
    Imagination
    Improvement
    "In Awe"
    Influence
    Inspiration
    Inspire
    Integrity
    Interview
    Investment
    Iowa
    Jack Nicklaus
    James A. Ray
    Jesse Cole
    Jim Lovell
    Jim Rohn
    Jim Rohn
    Jim Valvano
    JJ Watt
    J.K. Rowling
    Jobs
    Joe Ferguson
    Joel Brown
    John Addison
    John Henry Jowett
    John Lee Dumas
    John Maxwell
    John Maxwell
    John Miller
    John O'Leary
    John Wayne
    John Wayne
    Jon Gordon
    Journal
    Joy
    Julia Child
    Kevin Miller
    Kindness
    Kirby
    Kodi Lee
    Last Lecture
    Laughter
    Leadership
    Leadership Skills
    Learning
    Lecrae
    Lee Iacocca
    Les Brown
    Les Brown
    Lessons
    Life
    Life Changing Moments
    Life Journey
    Life Lessons
    Life Long Learning
    Life-long Learning
    Life Plan
    Life Skills
    Life Success Puzzle
    Light
    Linda Ellis
    Listening
    Living Life
    Look Ahead
    Love
    Luck
    Madonna
    Mae West
    Mahatma Gandhi
    Making A Difference
    Mark Cuban
    Mark Hayes
    Mark Twain
    Martin Luther King
    Martin Luther KingJr.
    Mary Kay Ash
    Masterpiece
    Matt Haffner
    Matthew Kenny
    Matt Miller
    Memories
    Mental Toughness
    Mentors
    Mercy
    MI
    Michael Brenner
    Michael John Bobak
    Mike Litman
    Mike Popson
    Mind
    Mindset
    Miserable
    Mistakes
    Mitch Albom
    Morrie Schwartz
    Motivate
    Motivation
    Moving Forward
    Mr. Popson
    Music
    Naomie Harris
    Napoleon Hill
    Napoleon Hill
    Negative
    Negativity
    Nelson Mandela
    Nelson Mandela
    Never Give Up
    New Years
    Nick Popaditch
    Nido Qubein
    Not Giving Up
    Observe
    Obstacles
    Offer Value
    Og Mandino
    Open Minded
    Opinions
    Opportunities
    Opportunity
    Oprah Winfrey
    Optimism
    Optimisn
    Oscar Wilde
    #OtherPeopleMatterMindset
    Our Past
    Our Story
    Parents
    Passion
    Past
    Patience
    Paul
    Peace
    Peace Of Mind
    People
    People Skills
    Performance
    Persistence
    Personal Development
    Personal Growth
    Perspective
    PGA Tour
    Phil Reinhardt
    Pictures
    Plane Crash
    Plato
    Play BIG
    Playing Small
    Podcasts
    Poet
    Politics
    Pope Francis
    Positive
    Positivity
    Possibilities
    Power
    Power Of Reading
    Predicaments
    Preparation
    Prepare
    Pressure
    Pride
    Principles Of Leadership Course
    Priorities
    Problems
    Problem Solving
    Procrastination
    Progress
    Prudence
    Purpose
    Pyramid Of Success
    Qbq
    Quality
    Question Mark
    Ralph Waldo Emerson
    Randy Pausch
    Reaction
    Reading
    Realistic
    Rear-view Mirror
    Reflection
    Regrets
    Rejoicing
    Relationships
    Remember
    Reminder
    Resentment
    Reserves
    Resolutions
    Responsibility
    Results
    Retreat
    Ric Elias
    Rick Warren
    Robert Holden
    Rosabeth Moss Kanter
    Rusty Keeley
    Ryder Cup
    Sacrifice
    Sam Crowley
    Sam Levenson
    School
    Science
    Scott Smith
    Secret
    Seize The Moment
    Self-belief
    Self-control
    Self Esteem
    Self Improvement
    Self-improvement
    Self Reflection
    Self Talk
    Setbacks
    Shaunti Feldhahn
    Shawn Achor
    Shawn Szydlowski
    Short Stories
    Significance
    Simone De Beauvoir
    Simon Sinek
    Skills
    Smile
    Social Media
    Solutions
    Someday
    Sports
    Sports Broadcasting
    Sports Memorbilia
    Stan Targosz
    Start Over
    Statement
    Stephen Richards
    Steve Jobs
    Stories
    Story
    Strength
    Stress
    Strong
    Struggle
    Stuart Scott
    Students
    Study
    Success
    Success Principles
    Summer
    Sunset
    Susan Sontang
    "Sustain Your Game"
    Sydney J. Harris
    Teaching
    Teamwork
    Tears
    Technology
    Teddy Roosevelt
    Terri Guillemets
    Thankful
    Thanksgiving
    The Dash
    The Final Summit
    The Magic Of Thinking Big
    The Positivity Project
    Thinking
    Thoughts
    Tiger Woods
    Time
    Time Management
    Tim Fargo
    Tina Fey
    Today
    Todd Stevens
    Tom Hanks
    Tom Hopkins
    Tomorrow
    Tony Robbins
    Tony Robbins
    Tragedy
    Traverse City
    Truth
    Tuesday People Podcast
    Tuesdays With Morrie
    Tv
    Unfairness
    United States Of America
    United States Of America
    Urgency
    USA
    Vacations
    Value
    Viktor Frankl
    Vince Lombardi
    Vision
    Waht Really Matters
    Warren Buffet
    Wayne Dyer
    Wayne Dyer
    Weakness
    Wedding
    William Borden
    William Penn
    Willie Nelson
    Will Puvalowski
    Wilson Kanadi
    Windshield
    Wineries
    WIN Principle
    Winston Churchill
    Wisdom
    Words
    Work
    Working
    Work Out
    World
    Worries
    Worry
    Wright Thurston
    Yesterday
    Your Why
    Zig Ziglar
    Zig Ziglar

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly