All of us, at certain moments of our lives, need to take advice and to receive help from other people.
~ Alexis Carrel
Have you ever noticed that everyone loves giving advice?
We get it from our parents and teachers, from our coaches and friends, yes, even from our spouses and children! I’ve discovered, though, that when we’re open to it, advice from others can absolutely change our lives. As a little guy, I received some sage advice that still resonates today.
After being burned, I spent 18 weeks in the hospital. The week before being released, one of the doctors, who had worked so diligently during my recovery, came into my room. He sat on my bed and told me this was his last day at the hospital as he was moving to Florida.
Dr. Vitale shared that my recovery was miraculous; he’d never seen anything like it in his entire career. He continued, saying that as difficult as the past four months had been, the journey forward would be equally as challenging. He added, “John, do you know that you can still do almost anything you want in your life?”
I remember saying, “Yes.” Yet, after losing my fingers to amputation, covered from head to toes in bandages, tied down to a hospital bed and unable to walk, I didn’t really feel like I could do anything.
Dr. Vitale continued, “John, you may not be able to be a court reporter, but you can be a lawyer or a judge. You may not be able to play baseball again, but you can be a manager or own the team. You may not be able to be a carpenter, but you can be a general contractor and build incredible things. John, if you want to get married and raise kids and have an incredible life: you can! You are a remarkable little boy, you can still live an amazing life, and the best is yet to come for you.”
That advice was offered to me more than 25 years ago! And although, I’ve never shared this conversation with anyone before today, his words have resonated loudly throughout my life. In good times and during the challenging days, the reminder that the best is yet to come has propelled me forward. This concept has resonated so loudly with me, you may have noticed, I actually close most of my emails with that very phrase: “Remember, the best is yet to come.”
My friends, I want you to recognize the relevance of this story in your life. First, please know that advice you offer to others may not seem to be received by them. But understand that sometimes, like anything truly worthwhile, it just takes time to fully grow. Sometimes it takes consistency and encouragement and years. But know that, when the student is ready, the teacher appears and the lesson resonates.
Second, that little nine-year-old boy needed loving advice; he needed the reminder that there is reason for hope. That same little boy – who now writes newsletters, speaks internationally, is married, has children, is wildly busy and extremely blessed – still needs advice today.
My challenge to you today is this: be open to the advice that comes into your life. You may not solicit it, you may not want it and it may not even be something you agree with. But in taking advice and receiving perspective from others we can more fully appreciate where we are and what remains possible in our lives.
Now let me give you some advice I received as a child that still resonates with me: in spite of your current challenges, the best is yet to come.
John O’Leary
www.RisingAbove.com
www.Facebook.com/SpeakerJohnOleary
It has given me such joy to share Dr. Vitale’s advice with all of my friends today! I hope you’ll now share the best advice you’ve ever received with our community too, so that we all may grow and benefit. I invite you to post the best advice you’ve ever received in the comments on my blog or on my Facebook wall .
We are releasing Be The Light Christian personal development Audio / DVD program in March. Would you like to receive a prerelease copy? Email me with “Be The Light” in the subject line by the end of the day today and you’ll be entered to win!
Last week I asked you to send titles of books you want us to read in our soon-to-be Rising Above book club! I was blown away with how many recommendations you had! We have book recommendations from A-Z, literally – Atlas Shrugged (thanks, Kevin!) to a book by Zusak titled Book Thief (thanks, Barb!) Soon, we’ll be ready for a vote on our first book!
John O’Leary
www.RisingAbove.com
www.Facebook.com/SpeakerJohnOleary
0 replies on “Advice That Could Change Your Life”
I’ve had a lot of good advice over the years, much of it from my Dad. He has always taught us that “If you don’t like something, change it.” So often in life we can feel “stuck,” or powerless. But we do have choices. If we can remember that, we can be empowered to take risks, and live life fully!
A day after the tragedy of our 17 year old daughter suicide death an elderly gentleman walked into our home, who had also experienced a similar tragedy in his past. His words to me were to “greive, don’t cry by yourself, and you will never get over this, but do not dwell on this, it will define your future and to dwell on the tragedy will not allow you to remember the happiness that she brought.” Of all the kind and carefully chosen words that were spoken to us through those horrific days, his stuck in my head. He was right, so when we begin to dwell on the tragedy, we get busy in life and keep moving foward. We’re still making it five years later. Your life is truely an inspiration to us all. Thank You.
The best advice I ever received was from my mom. It was after a Cubs game. We were passing a homeless man on the street and my mom grabbed a few dollars from her purse and gave it to him. I remembered the man saying God bless you. Being young I asked my mom if she sneezed. Confused she looked an me and said “no I didn’t sneeze, why did you think I sneezed?” I said because that man said God bless you. With a laugh my mom said “oh well that was because I helped him out a little.” Then she gave me the advice that will stay with me for the rest of my life. “I wanted to help him more, but I could help a little so I did. You may not always be able to do everything you want to do to help people but don’t ever let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can!
John,
The best advice I ever received is this among the many of which I had to learn on my own; “Never Let Your Fears Override Your Dreams!’ Connie Lee
Too many times people say it can’t be done; friends and family are the worst. But they look at things through their own limitations and capabilities. What God has called you to do, He will make a way. When I started the “Shattering The Silence Tour and Documentary Project, at FACSA Foundation.org, I had a broken down car and no money. I believe in our mission so much, I mortgaged my home to get us a decent vehicle; and left home on 300.00, a wing, and a prayer. All across the country, when we had no money to get from point A to point B, God always sent a donation at the last minute. Now we are on the Spring/Summer edition of the Shattering The SIlence Tour and Documentary Project. We would love for you all to join us as We are changing the social stigma of child sexual assault, public policies, conducting current research of community needs and assessment, educating communities on prevention and education of child sexual assault by hosting free conferences with local advocates; filming a documentary on survivors stories across the nation and how to heal from any trauma, not just child sexual assault and human trafficking, for people to thrive, rather than just surviving. It is time we learn to live, rather than merely exist.
Connie Lee/FACSA Foundation/Founder/President
318.540.4464
FACSAFoundation.org
facsasavethechildren@hotmail.com