A Kick In The Teeth: Walt Disney Says It's OK

All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles have strengthened me...You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you..." Walt Disney Well, there you have it. As I've stated before in this blog, I'm a fan of Walt Disney. Not because I think he was a Saint or some perfect example to pattern my life by. Not a chance. Even he, in the biographies I've read stated that he isn't someone he wanted others to emulate. He said that he swore, told dirty jokes, smoked too much (which ultimately took his life), and drank alcohol. At times, it's been said that he could be overly difficult to work with and even condescending. However, I do appreciate learning about an individual who experiences great odds and difficulties and comes out at the end verifiably happy or content with his life. At one point I liked to study the life of Abraham Lincoln who also struggled and had amazing quotes such as: "I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day." My brief message today, and probably for the next month is for us to remember our struggles and look back at what we have learned. We learn to find meaning and to trust the most important things to remain and the things that are not important to go away. I have been through difficult times and found that family and God are all that matter. Now, I watch other family and friends, and even our country experience difficult times. Whether self-inflicted or not, I believe that there is a Higher Power that is allowing the good and bad to occur and that each one of them is an opportunity to learn and to trust Him. Because, in the end, if there is truly a God, and He is all powerful and knowledgeable, and that He allows things to occur for our benefit, then all of this is a means to an end. And, if He is a God or a Father of me, then His end for me is better than anything that I can imagine, because I do not have all knowledge. Thus, trusting in His means, it will result in an End that will be beneficial more than I can imagine or than what others may imagine. However, because He is not directly in front of me, I look to other examples of those who have struggled to find strength when I do not have strength. Research shows that self-efficacy can be developed by looking to mentors. Mentors must be those who we see have similarities with ourselves in some way. Therefore, I enjoy quotes such as Walt Disney's or Abraham Lincoln's--both men who overcame a lot. That's all for now. Jamison Law