Opening Reflection
Life has a way of surprising us at the exact moment we need it most.
I remember sitting in a quiet hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky, staring out the window. That evening, I was set to speak for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. Normally, I'd be energized before a keynote. But that day? I was drained. My travel schedule had kept me from exercising, and mild vertigo had been throwing my balance off. Speaking on stage while the room might spin was not exactly my idea of fun.
The presentation was at 7:00 PM, but they invited me to come an hour earlier for a special performance. I figured it would be a nice warm-up for the evening. I had no idea I was about to witness something that would completely shift my perspective.
The Performance
Meeting Patrick Henry Hughes
The announcer's voice was warm as he said, “Please welcome, Mr. Patrick Henry Hughes.” A young man in a wheelchair rolled onto the stage and positioned himself at the piano. His fingers touched the keys and, within seconds, the room filled with music so pure it seemed to have its own heartbeat.
Then he started to sing. His voice carried a depth that made you stop and really listen. I could feel that this wasn't just talent. It was something more, something that radiated from his entire being. And that smile... it was the kind of smile that stays with you long after you see it.
About ten minutes in, the stage lights dimmed. A short film began to play, and I learned the truth behind the music.
Patrick had been born without eyes and with joints so tight he would never walk. Fitted with artificial eyes as a baby, he spent his life in a wheelchair. But before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. His mother said, “I could hit any note on the piano, and within one or two tries, he'd find it.” By the time he turned two, he was playing requests like You Are My Sunshine and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
His father, while realizing they would never play catch in the yard, found a different bond through music.
Gratitude in Action
Beyond Talent: The Power of Gratitude
Fast forward to today, Patrick is a junior at the University of Louisville. His dad goes to every single class with him, and together they've built an academic record that's nearly all A's. Patrick is also part of the university's 214-member marching band. Yes, a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player in a marching band.
His father pushes and rotates his wheelchair during halftime shows while the crowd cheers. To make this possible, his dad works the graveyard shift at UPS so he can be there for every class and every practice. When Patrick talks about him, he simply says, “My dad's my hero.”
But it wasn't just the music or the dedication that struck me. It was Patrick's “attitude of gratitude.” Between songs, he would speak to the audience: “God made me blind and unable to walk. Big deal! He gave me the ability to play music, the chance to meet wonderful people, and so many blessings.”
When the performance ended, Patrick and his father stood side by side. The crowd rose to their feet and applauded for over five minutes. I had goosebumps. I realized I had just met a real-life hero.
The Lasting Lesson
The Lesson That Stays With You
When I got back to Chicago, I told my wife, my friends, and my team at Simple Truths about Patrick. Two weeks later, a friend sent me a quote:
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It is about learning how to dance in the rain.”
That's exactly what Patrick does. And it's what we all need to do. Life will throw storms our way. Some will pass quickly, others will linger. We can't control the weather, but we can control our response.
Do we wallow in self-pity? Or do we embrace gratitude and move forward anyway?
Gratitude has the power to shift our mindset and our life. As author Sarah Ban Breathnach wrote, “When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that is present, we experience heaven on earth.”
Patrick's story is living proof. His life shows us that no matter the challenge, we can choose joy. We can choose to focus on the gifts we do have. And when we do, we learn not just to survive the storm, but to truly dance in the rain.
Relevant read
Learning to Dance in the Rain : Mac Anderson and BJ Gallagher
Daily Encouragement
Quotes for the Day
"Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or to lose."
-- Lyndon B. Johnson"There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self."
-- Aldous Huxley"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person."
-- Albert Schwietzer
More Motivation