In college I was an RA (resident advisor) of one of the dorms.
One of my dorm’s residents was a guy named Anthony. He was the same age as me and same major. SUPER cool guy. He rode a skateboard everywhere and was seriously one of the kindest guys you’d ever meet.
Fast forward a few years after college, he became a wildly successful wedding photographer. I stayed abreast of all the awesome success he was having and was very happy to see a great guy doing great.
It couldn’t have been more than a few years into his career when it all came crumbling down.
Anthony was diagnosed with ALS.
ALS is a condition you may have heard of through the ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE that went viral last year.
It’s basically one of the cruelest diseases anyone can possibly have…
Anthony learned he (at about 25 years old) was slowly going to lose function of all his muscles, limbs, ability to swallow, and walk. Most cases die within 5 years of diagnosis.
Anthony had to cancel all his weddings and return over $30,000 in deposits and sell his camera equipment.
He documented all this on his Facebook page. But instead of throwing a public pity party and waiting to die, he chose to become a crusader for fight against ALS. His fight went viral and it landed him on the Ellen show.
He is now one of the most famous figures suffering from the disease.
Anyway, I bring this up because I saw his post tonight and like many of his others, I am blown away by his ATTITUDE.
He is so unbelievably resourceful and pragmatically optimistic that I’m embarrassed every time he posts something because of any iota of self-pity that may have entered my mind that day.
So, I wanted to remind you –like he does me constantly and unknowingly — how lucky I am.
Heres his post:
” Today I received my electric wheelchair.… and I need to make a request from my friends and family to make this an easier transition.
I accept and understand the realities of ALS and I am a firm believer in early adoption. Can I still walk? Yes. But I get fatigued relatively easy and if I trip I don’t have the strength in my arms to catch the fall. I’ve traumatically witnessed my mother and my grandmother trip and fall during their ALS journey. So I decided to get the wheelchair early to help avoid getting broken bones and concussions that in turn could actually accelerate my disease progression.
As of now I don’t plan on using it all the time. I’m going to rig it up to make it my official photography chair and I’ll take it out when I walk my dog or take a trip to disneyland. And then I’ll use it more and more as the disease progresses. But that’s OK because I plan on living. I am hoping and advocating for a cure. But if a cure doesn’t come I am going to adapt and embrace any and all options that will allow me to live and fight a long life. There is no other option.
So please be positive if you see me in a wheelchair. I don’t want to cry every time I see a loved one in my chair and explain why I have it. Please don’t be alarmed and worry in front of me. Please help me embrace it and look at it as a positive and how it’s going to allow me to always be involved, take pictures, and long walks with my Beautiful wife and dog (Lucy). The end. Love you guys #KissMyALS ‪#‎ThereIsLifeWithALS”
I really hope that gives you a sense of contrast of how most people actually deal with adversity (by complaining) and how you *could* deal with it.
His names Anthony Carbajal. Look him up sometime.
Workout of the Day:
Crossover Symmetry
2×40 on/20 Off
FLR (rings)
Dead Hang
A. DBL KB Bench Press 4×6-8 @21X1
B1. Z-Press 4×5 (building)
B2. Inverted Row W/Feet on Box 4×6-8 @2121
C. KB Arm Bar + Sit Up 50 Reps Alternating Arms (not for time)
Competition:
Rest Day