Copyright 2003 Kevin Stacey. All rights reserved.

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Copyright 2003 Kevin Stacey. All rights reserved.

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In this issue:

1. Monthly Article: Visit the ER.
2. About the author.
3. Privacy statement.
4. Subscription information.

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1. Visit the ER
                               

Over the weekend, while I was 20 feet up on a ladder attempting to hang Christmas lights on my house, the top of the ladder slipped down the house and onto the ground (I was trying to impress my wife by having the lights up before she got home.) I suffered a deep laceration on my forehead down to the eyebrow, along with a broken finger and bruised leg. A neighbor drove me to the emergency room for stitches, and my wife met me there. 

Although it was a painful experience, it could have been much worse. I could have had major eye damage, a broken nose, wrist or leg. Going through the experience gave me another one of those wake-up call type of perspective shifts that we seem to need regularly. If we can’t remind ourselves, then it seems we need an experience that reminds us of all the things in life that we have to be grateful for. The basics are the most easily forgotten. A healthy body, the absence of physical pain, being able to walk, having someone who loves you and takes care of you when you’re hurt or sick.  

Waiting in the ER for the doctor to give me stitches was one of the first times in a while when I had absolutely nothing to do. It kept me from hanging lights and kept my wife from shopping and errands, and we both had a chance to breathe for a few minutes.  It was the quietest few hours we had in a long time. No agenda, no objectives, no use of cell phones allowed. Just quietly waiting, talking and counting our blessings that with a few stitches I would be fine. 

Outside the treatment room it was a different story.  On this Saturday just before Christmas, the ER waiting room was packed.  One man sat in a wheelchair with a broken leg.  A 3 year old sat in his mother’s lap with the flu – high fever, horrible cough, and eyes so heavy you could tell how sick he was from across the room.  Others sat in pain and discomfort with any number of ailments.  The few nurses on staff rushed around trying to get to everyone as quickly as they could.  Some people seemed to be alone with no one to take care of them.

Observing this made me realize that it doesn’t matter that the outdoor lights won’t be up. It doesn’t matter that all of the things inside of the house won’t be done. What matters is that I will be healthy at Christmas and will be surrounded by family and friends. It reminded me that the point of life isn’t to get it all done; it’s to enjoy each step along the way and be fully present in the moments of our lives. The ER reminds us of the reason why the point is to be fully present in the moments of our lives- because nobody knows how moments they have left. 

Human life is fragile and temporary. We can fight that fact all we want, but that’s the reality. In my hometown last week, an 18-year-old college student suddenly died of the flu. 

If you feel stressed this holiday season, if you think you’re never going to get it all done, or if you think everything has to a certain way, and you’re anxious or upset when things are not the way you want them to be, then visit your local ER. I highly recommend it. Look around and observe the people in pain. If there are empty seats, sit in the waiting room for a few minutes. See the people waiting. See the people who have no control over the situation- what happened to them or when they’re going to be treated. See the people who would just love to trade “problems” with you. Then walk out and be grateful for what you have.

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2. Kevin Stacey is a professional speaker/trainer who works with organizations that want to enhance their bottom line by investing in their most important resource, their people, through training programs that increase their effectiveness and eliminate negativity and self-induced problems. He develops and delivers captivating programs packed with practical information that seminar participants can immediately put to use. With an extensive background in clinical healthcare through both civilian and military settings and the managed care industry, he has developed a variety of training programs and presented over 400 professional speaking engagements for over 9,000 audience members throughout the United States and internationally. 
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Contact Information:
Kevin M. Stacey

TrainRight, Inc.

222 Samuel Drive

Whitinsville, MA 01588

1-800-603-7168

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Click below for the curriculum/program highlights of Kevin’s corporate training programs:

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3. PRIVACY STATEMENT: Your name or e-mail address will never be distributed, sold, traded, or rented, to anyone without your permission.

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4. Subscription Information
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© Copyright 2003 Kevin Stacey/TrainRight, Inc.

This newsletter and its content are proprietary products. All rights reserved. I encourage sharing this newsletter in whole if copyright and attribution are always included.