As I spoke about in one of my first posts, Lou has always been someone who set goals for himself and doggedly and single mindedly pursued them.
His dad and I always said he was relentless, but we did not think of it as a positive trait, especially when directed at us. As Lou moved through his school years, teachers would say to us ‘he never gives up’ or ‘when he decides he wants something, he pursues it with a single mindedness’’. His dad and I would just look at each other, laugh and say, you mean, he is Relentless.
I don’t know where his determination comes from, but I am grateful and thank God for it. Someone is always trying to tell Lou he can’t do something because all they see is a young man with leg braces and crutches. Lou is always proving them wrong and doing things his way.
A very important person in Lou’s life wrote the Afterword in his book My Disability Doesn’t Define Me. She included the following quote from Calvin Coolidge.
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
Lou’s tenacity and not giving up or taking ‘No’ for an answer or letting his disability define him has continued to serve him well. He continues to set goals for himself and never gives up. From his first book, to working with a colleague on a co-authored book that was just released, to venturing into fiction.
Since Lou is so good at goal setting and remaining focused on reaching them, he is developing a consulting package so he can work with people and give them the tools to successfully reach their goals. I think this is an exciting, new workstream for him and I can’t wait to see where he goes with it.
Hopefully, with his new consulting packages he can help others reach their goals.
Talk to you next month. Until then, may you be blessed with warmth in your home, love in your heart, peace in your soul and joy in your life.