“If not me, then who? If not now, when?” posed Paralympic sailor and quadriplegic Jennifer French this past Saturday at the Colorado Community Sailing Spirit of Sailing Gala. In 1998, after hitting an icy patch during a full moon snowboard ride with friends, Ms. French was left a quadriplegic. Despite this life-altering event, Ms. French earned a silver medal for the two person keel sailing event at the 2012 Paralympics Games in London. Further, Ms. French fought to be a participant in a clinical trial of a neuroprosthetic system that now enables her to stand up out of her wheelchair and move around on her own two feet using her own muscles, which are stimulated by 24 surgically implanted electrodes. Her spirit is contagiously positive, energetic and utterly inspiring. If she can face such life changing and physically limiting events with resilience and focus, it pushed me to question my own mindset and perspective: am I thankful enough each able-bodied day?
This week we focus on the impact and significance of our individual mindsets in relation to our satisfaction with our current work-life mix. For our featured Wixii, Colleen, the road to finding an engaging professional field was indirect and at times frustrating, but her mindset remained optimistic and she now feels feel fortunate to be able to find a job that works with her interests and family life despite the fact that starting over in her 40’s is harder than it would have been 10 years earlier.
For me, I usually operate as a “Pragmatic Optimist.” What do I mean by that? I am generally dialed positive yet practical in the sense that I roll with the punches and don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. As shared in Confessions of an Efficiency Junkie, I soar on feelings of accomplishment and value from both small tasks and big responsibilities. I start each day, perhaps unrealistically, optimistic about how much I can accomplish. However, I end most days pragmatically checking off the accomplishments of the day and re-prioritizing my one-page, integrated three column To Do list for family and home, Women in the Mix,
launching each son safely to school, I entered the meeting, a bit frazzled and certainly not showered, but smiling. Two attendees immediately comment that “I am just too happy for this hour in the morning.” I get this reaction often. Am I really that upbeat? Now, I am not implying that I run around town smiling like a loon, but, yes, I am dialed optimistic. I try to look for the positive in any given situation (i.e., I made the meeting) and also the pragmatic (i.e., although I was frazzled, I completed my responsibilities for the meeting).
A few weeks ago during a work session with Cindy, I proudly announced that I remembered to bring a plastic fork for our working lunch (this was an accomplishment). With dramatic hand gesture, I pulled the plastic fork from my lunch sack, and sure enough a prong had broken off. After a soul-clearing laugh by both of us, I dug into my lunch with the three prongs, happy to have a functional (albeit slightly dangerous) utensil.
My priorities have become clearer with each passing year and that keeps me focused. I realize that life is only perfect in its imperfection, and my prevailing mindset of optimism and pragmatism help our family roll through many everyday bumps.
In no day of my life, to date, has any of my days brought anything close to a life altering event, like in Jennifer French’s life. There is no end to the respect and admiration I have for her and others that face incredible challenges every day. However, in any given day, we are all tested in smaller ways and our daily mindset shapes our long-term perspective. Join me in taking a closer look at life, and in each endeavor and challenge, perhaps ask: If not me, then who? If not now, when?
