My Manic Monday - Positive
Posted: Monday, July 27, 2009 by Travis Cody inWelcome to another Manic Monday...with Travis! The originator of this Manic Monday feature, Morgen of It's A Blog Eat Blog World, has interests moving in another direction lately. The first Manic Monday was way back on 29 January 2007! The very first word was Cruising. You can read my post here. I think I've only missed a couple of weeks during the most excellent run of this feature.
To Morgen, I just want to say that I appreciate how you've managed the game. It's been fun.
I didn't see a word on Friday, so I've decided to do my own. My word for today is Positive.
Positive Day comes from the mind of a terrific 12 year old. She's the daughter of my blog pal Jennifer at Dust Bunny Hostage. The idea is explained in this post.
I'm making this kind of a week of positive thinking and actions leading up to the grand Positive Day on Friday. My first positive thought of the week is to remind you that if you think you can't do something, give it another think. You might surprise yourself.
In October 1996, Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with nonseminomatous testicular cancer, which spread to his lungs, abdomen, and brain. He was 25 years old and entering the prime of his career as a grand tour bicycle racer. He had won two stages in the Tour de France prior to his diagnosis. But his doctors gave him only a 50% chance of survival after surgery on brain tumors and to remove a cancerous testicle.
After rigorous and debilitating treatments, he beat cancer and returned to the grand tour with a 4th place finish in the Vuelta a Espana in 1998. Did you just do the math? He was given a 50% chance to survive a serious fight with cancer. In just two years, he returned to cycling. In 1999 he won the first of his 7 consecutive Tours de France. This feat is unprecedented in the sport of cycling, even by healthy racers. Others have won 5 Tours. Lance Armstrong won 7. In a row. After beating cancer.
Armstrong celebrating his 7th Tour win in 2005.Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation brings awareness and money to the fight against all forms of cancer. It also provides guidelines and suggestions for healthy living. But more importantly, it brings hope. It reminds us that no matter the odds, we can still try. Attitude is critical to fighting cancer, because the treatments are invasive and harsh. I know. I've been through it. And I won my fight.
I know many have lost long battles with cancer. My paternal grandmother fought for years and lost. Pam's mom fought and lost. Many of my blog pals have fought and won, or lost, or have family that are battling or have battled.
Lance Armstrong retired from competitive cycling after his 7th Tour win, in 2005, and spent more than three years away from the sport. This year he returned to "raise awareness of the global cancer burden." He raced without a salary for Team Astana. On Sunday, 25 July, Armstrong finished the Tour de France in 3rd place, behind teammate and overall winner Alberto Contador of Spain and second place Andy Schleck of Luxembourg and Team Saxo Bank. He has announced the formation of a new team for the 2010 cycling season, to be sponsored in the main by Radio Shack.
Contador (in yellow), Schleck (in white), and Armstrong on the podium after the 2009 Tour.The next time you think you can't do something, give it another think. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for.
Edit: Morgen came through with Final for this week's Manic Monday, representing the Final word in his feature. Again I'd like to extend my thanks to Mo for giving us this weekly Monday game. I've enjoyed it.
I grabbed the graphic from Jamie at Duward Discussion.
And to tie in Mo's word Final with my word Positive, I know we haven't written the Final chapter on Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France, or on his humanitarian efforts to help defeat cancer, and to give cancer patients hope and inspiration.
Please consider joining us on Friday, 31 July, for Positive Day in the Bloggosphere, and reward a young girl's faith in humanity.
I positively like this post!
Have a great day, Travis -- and an equally great week!!!!!