Edward M. Kennedy lived his life to the fullest. His accomplishments have affected all of our lives. None have been more affected by their father then Ted and Patrick Kennedy.
He gave his sons as well as all of the motivation and confidence to climb the difficult hills in life.
Both Ted and Patrick Kennedy had physical illnesses that could have been insurmountable obstacles for living productive and self-actualized lives. Patrick has severe asthma and Ted had bone cancer and lot his leg. In their emotionally moving eulogies for their father, both shared how their father was there for them at their times of deepest despair.
Teddy Kennedy was not only there for his sons, he also had confidence in his son's over-coming their obstacles.
He gave them strong mental fitness messages and then stayed with his sons until they successfully overcame their physical obstacles and fears.
Teddy's children became mentally fit, because of their father's messages and because of their father's confidence, determination and nurturing involvement in their lives.
At Nation AP there is a video and transcript of what the boys said about their father. Here is what Ted said about his father.
"When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with bone cancer. And a few months after I lost my leg, there was a heavy snowfall over my childhood home outside of Washington, D.C. And my father went to the garage to get the old Flexible Flyer and asked me if I wanted to go sledding down the steep driveway.
"And I was trying to get used to my new artificial leg. And the hill was covered with ice and snow. And it wasn't easy for me to walk. And the hill was very slick. And as I struggled to walk, I slipped and I fell on the ice. And I started to cry and I said, 'I can't do this.' I said, 'I'll never be able to climb up that hill.'
"And he lifted me up in his strong, gentle arms and said something I will never forget. He said, 'I know you can do it. There is nothing that you can't do. We're going to climb that hill together, even if it takes us all day.'
"Sure enough, he held me around my waist and we slowly made it to the top. And you know, at age 12 losing your leg pretty much seems like the end of the world. But as I climbed on to his back and we flew down the hill that day, I knew he was right. I knew I was going to be OK.'
"You see, my father taught me that even our most profound losses are survivable, and that is - it is what we do with that loss, our ability to transform it into a positive event, that is one of my father's greatest lessons.'
We all will have hills in our lives that seem insurmountable and impossible to climb. Let us then remember the spirit and message from Teddy Kennedy. Let us replace the " I can't" thinking about our lives with Teddy's message to us. Let us think: I know I can do it. There is nothing I can't do.
And with our children, let us live Teddy's message. "I know you can do it. There is nothing you can't do. Were going to climb that he'll together, even if it takes us all day.'
Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!
Dr. Hal
Life and Mental Fitness Coach
Edward M. Kennedy lived his life to the fullest. His accomplishments have affected all of our lives. None have been more affected by their father then Ted and Patrick Kennedy.
He gave his sons as well as all of the motivation and confidence to climb the difficult hills in life.
Both Ted and Patrick Kennedy had physical illnesses that could have been insurmountable obstacles for living productive and self-actualized lives. Patrick has severe asthma and Ted had bone cancer and lot his leg. In their emotionally moving eulogies for their father, both shared how their father was there for them at their times of deepest despair.
Teddy Kennedy was not only there for his sons, he also had confidence in his son's over-coming their obstacles.
He gave them strong mental fitness messages and then stayed with his sons until they successfully overcame their physical obstacles and fears.
Teddy's children became mentally fit, because of their father's messages and because of their father's confidence, determination and nurturing involvement in their lives.
At Nation AP there is a video and transcript of what the boys said about their father. Here is what Ted said about his father.
"When I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with bone cancer. And a few months after I lost my leg, there was a heavy snowfall over my childhood home outside of Washington, D.C. And my father went to the garage to get the old Flexible Flyer and asked me if I wanted to go sledding down the steep driveway.
"And I was trying to get used to my new artificial leg. And the hill was covered with ice and snow. And it wasn't easy for me to walk. And the hill was very slick. And as I struggled to walk, I slipped and I fell on the ice. And I started to cry and I said, 'I can't do this.' I said, 'I'll never be able to climb up that hill.'
"And he lifted me up in his strong, gentle arms and said something I will never forget. He said, 'I know you can do it. There is nothing that you can't do. We're going to climb that hill together, even if it takes us all day.'
"Sure enough, he held me around my waist and we slowly made it to the top. And you know, at age 12 losing your leg pretty much seems like the end of the world. But as I climbed on to his back and we flew down the hill that day, I knew he was right. I knew I was going to be OK.'
"You see, my father taught me that even our most profound losses are survivable, and that is - it is what we do with that loss, our ability to transform it into a positive event, that is one of my father's greatest lessons.'
We all will have hills in our lives that seem insurmountable and impossible to climb. Let us then remember the spirit and message from Teddy Kennedy. Let us replace the " I can't" thinking about our lives with Teddy's message to us. Let us think: I know I can do it. There is nothing I can't do.
And with our children, let us live Teddy's message. "I know you can do it. There is nothing you can't do. Were going to climb that he'll together, even if it takes us all day.'
Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!
Dr. Hal
Life and Mental Fitness Coach