The Palisadian-Post presents an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says,” with a column by Palisadian Jimmy Dunne—on life in the “greatest town in America.”
‘Roller Coasters’
I’ve gotten hit over the past couple months by a number of friends, both from here in town and around the country, that got some really bad news about their health, or got in a bad accident, or that lost someone unexpectedly in their lives.
Here’s what’s been remarkable.
How they dealt with it.
And I’m not talking about in the moment they heard the news. I’m talking about how they decided to move forward in their life days later.
Here’s one of them.
Last night, I was sipping cocktails with a buddy about 10 yards away from the edge of the Pacific Ocean and watching our life-giving sun slip out of site beyond the sea.
He shared that he had a colon operation last week. And how it was the fifth he’s had in the past few months.
Maybe that’s why I’m writing this article. It just hit me over the head.
I know it was more than a routine “colon operation.” But his take was, “So what. It’s a great day today. It’s been a fantastic journey up until now. How lucky am I.”
Another pal, after seven plates in his face, is on Operation No. 9 to his back, legs, lungs and shoulders after a freak golf cart accident where he was launched out of the golf cart—and it landed on his face and back.
He has been nothing but positive. Driven to heal. A fantastic, selfless and loving wife. He talks about how much it makes him appreciative of everything he has.
And I absolutely know part of the reason he so miraculously healed is because of his attitude.
What brave, heroic, inspiring ways to look at our amazing journey we’re all privileged to take.
Jack Nicklaus talked about how he loved it when he’d be on the practice tee in a tournament and hear another golfer whining about the conditions of the course, and how “it wasn’t fair.” Like it wasn’t fair for all the other players, too.
He said he could cross him off the list of having any prayer of winning. The guy had already given himself an excuse to fail—before he even teed off.
Whining. It’s the morphine of dreams.
Here’s what I know. I’m guessing it’s probably close to the same for you.
I hit the lottery the day I was born.
I was healthy, in a fantastic family, in a great town—in the greatest country on the planet.
What in the world do I have to complain about.
Yet, it’s astounding how, in the day to day of it all, it’s so easy to lose perspective. To find some kind of comfort in the “poor me.”
We all deal with it.
As with so many things, the dearest friends in our life and in our family are often our most inspiring and important teachers.
I suppose, when you think about it, life is kind of like a roller coaster.
You head up the big hill, wondering what’s ahead and what’s going to be just around the corner.
It’s so great. It’s exciting, so exhilarating, so fun, with moments that just take your breath away. But you better hold on, because it’s going to be bumpy.
But, hopefully, as the ride slows down and you pull in that station, you look back and say, “That was one fantastic ride.”
Yours,
Jimmy Dunne
Jimmy Dunne is modern-day Renaissance Man; a hit songwriter (28 million hit records), screenwriter/producer of hit television series, award-winning author, an entrepreneur—and a Palisadian “Citizen of the Year.” You can reach him at j@jimmydunne.com or jimmydunne.substack.com.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.