This past week I attended a funeral to honor my high school cheerleading coach, Lesa Ward. Lesa had fought cancer for a few years and after a long battle she said goodbye to her family and friends last Thursday. She was an amazing, self-less woman who gave her life as an educator to children of all ages. She dedicated her life helping others by serving in public education as a high school counselor, middle school principal and superintendent for Blackwell, OK. Blackwell schools closed on the day of her funeral to honor her life.
A family friend delivered the Remembrance and his stories were so "Lesa", yet so self-applicable. When learning of her cancer (stage 4 ovarian) he asked her, "Why you?" Lesa, replied, "Why not?" Lesa's attitude will carry me through my own life over this next year.
Recently, I injured my knee. I've known for quite some time that I am looking at surgery. Up until attending this funeral to honor a beautiful life lost, I have been asking myself, "Why me?" The timing couldn't be worse! I just signed a contract to market my business, record choreography and get ready to expand Be Bad Hip Hop BIG TIME! "Why me?" I can't follow through with my commitments and plans with a torn up knee! "Why me?"
How selfish of me to worry about a torn knee when Lesa was fighting for her life and worrying about her family's wellbeing in her absence. I can't workout, dance, teach, or choreograph for a year. A year. I know there is a reason. I don't know what it is now, but someday I will. And when a year has gone by and my knee is stronger, I will still dance.
"I'm in a win/win situation", Lesa said. "If God heals me and I have many more years of life with my family, I win. If he decides to take me, I still win." WOW! Talk about a positive attitude! I'm trying not to feel sorry for myself because I can't dance for a year and Lesa has a positive attitude facing death! Be strong, Gwenda. Stop being a pansy. You are a BAD ASS. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You will get through this. Love life every day. Attitude is everything.