Optimism: It's Contagious

Optimism is contagious.

A little over four months ago I was dying. Statistics, doctors, and a few friends were skeptical. Removing my heart, the size of a football, was not going to be easy. Friends saw death in the circles around my eyes and the pale color of my face. I felt it although I didn’t believe it.

Ironically, after my brother Brian passed away tragically, I was convinced by the comforting influence of God’s love I wasn’t going anywhere. God’s love empowered me with confidence and optimism.

Photo: The day after my heart transplant 09-10-2009

Shortly after I was listed for a transplant, a few of my cardiologists said something to the effect, “Success, is 50% your attitude. The rest is science.”

The principle of optimism should never be under estimated. The men who we refer to as our founding fathers shared this principle, which gave them, power to free the Colonies from England. By this power, Gandhi believed India could win a war of independence without taking up arms. Through optimism people change, serve, love, and lead the way for others.

You might not be a Senator or fly to the moon. You probably won’t be on television. You might not write a famous novel, experience front row seats to a sporting event, visit Italy and see Davinci or Michelangelo’s work, or win the showcase showdown on the Price is Right. However, gravitating to this principle and those people in your life who are optomistic will change you and you'll experience happiness where you never knew it existed.

Photo: Taken January 2010

By this power, each one of us can do mighty things. The effects of our optimism and service, with the talents and time we’ve been given have a rippling effect on those around us and effects generations.

With this optimism I plan to live as long as possible with the heart I’ve been given. I will do all I can to help where I can. But, above all, I will enjoy life and do things most of you have experienced your whole life with a normal heart.

Here are few things I've already been enjoying... Am I allowed to brag in this new condition? Absolutely.

Ice Fishing


Temple Square


The Virgin River, St. George, Utah


Golfing in St. George


Fishing Strawberry Reservoir


Climbing the base of Mt. Olympus


Climbing further up Mt. Olympus



Celebrating with my wife Lynnette


Skiing at Snowbird


Playing basketball

BlessMyLife.org

I received an e-mail worth sharing with you from my good friend's Rob & Alexis Duffin. Together Rob and his wife have created an uplifting website about the daily miracles in our lives. (As a studio engineer Rob's worked on several of my recordings. I appreciate his optimism.) www.blessmylife.org

To Our Friends:

We were recently exposed to yet another website that provides people with an outlet for blogging about negative life experiences. Though the intent of that site is meant to be humorous, it only increased our desire for a medium that inspires positive thinking. Blessings seem to be more abundant when we recognize them with gratitude.

We are excited to introduce our site, Bless My Life, Where Miracles Are a Daily Occurrence (www.blessmylife.org).

We have created this site to provide you with a place to share your daily miracles and blessings. We hope that by providing you with a place to share your daily, life-enhancing moments that more of these moments will be recognized in all of our lives.

We’re excited to have a positive force for good in the world and we invite you to be a part of it!

Love, Rob and Alexis Duffin
www.blessmylife.org

Say a Prayer this Valentine's for the Cardiac Kids

(Picture: 1st baby photo after I recovered from heart surgery at 22 hours - 1973)

In the past 6 months, since I was listed for a new heart, my wife and I have read other related blogs. It's sobering to see so many ‘cardiac kids’ or children with congenital heart disease. Some of these sweet souls have had transplants. Others are waiting. There have been miracles, struggles, and loss of life.

It’s inspiring to interact with a few of these families. I’m sure several share my medical team at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s a wonderful staff of experts who are passionate in their work to save lives. But, more importantly to me, the cardiology and transplant staff has a peaceful, caring spirit about them.

Although I am fully aware of the many adults in my same shoes I would hope they'd agree with me when I admit that living 35 years is a great blessing and an honor. I hope to have many more years. I have a daughter who needs a father. But, my heart is crying out for these ‘cardiac kids’ that they might have a chance to enjoy this beautiful world. Just as badly as I want to live for my daughter I want these sons or daughters to live for their parents.

Several months ago, while I was staying in the hospital with my health declining, I remember being discouraged with life and my situation. And although I struggled mentally, I said a quiet prayer. Moments later I recalled something I heard from a man I greatly admire. He said, “Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward. Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn… Hope has the power to fill our lives with happiness. Its absence—when this desire of our heart is delayed—can make ‘the heart sick.’” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Member of the LDS Church First Presidency) Upon remembering this message I regained my optimism and felt peace again.

This Valentine’s weekend as we think of hearts I invite you to join with me in remembering these ‘cardiac kids’ and their families. Say a prayer for them. I’ve added links to many of their blogs over on the right side.