Michael Doyle and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
I loved the children's book by Judith Viorst of a similar name (think Alexander). Whenever my kids came home from school after having a tough day, we would read this book to try and give the day some context.
Last Wednesday was a day like that for me. I was visiting my hometown of Saratoga Springs NY as my mother had taken a turn for the worse. After a call from my sister, I drove in to see Mom. For two days, my sisters and I talked to, sang songs, and told stories with my mother in the room, but not conscious. On Wednesday morning feeling as if I had done nothing athletic in a few days; I decided on my own to go for a quick jog through my hometown.
I got up early; left the Hilton Hotel and headed across town through Congress Park, up the hill to Park Place and down towards the neighborhood of my youth. I ran down a side street where I had walked a lot as a child perhaps engrossed in thinking about my childhood now that I'm in my 60s, and I slipped on some sand in the road and took a fall.
I got up I was bleeding at the knees and at the elbow; dusted myself off and decided I would continue my run. I walked a few blocks by my childhood home and decided I would jog back to the hotel to clean up. Jogging turned out to be a bad idea, as the pain in my elbow was worse so I relegated myself to a walk.
When I got to the hotel it was clear that my elbow needed attention and I showered quickly washing out my wounds and covering them with bandages I had gotten at the front desk. I headed to get breakfast and to urgent care, but just before I got into my car, I noticed two of my sisters had called. In returning their calls, I discovered that my mother had passed away that morning.
I drove to the McDonald's for a quick egg McMuffin and a cup of coffee knowing that I might be in urgent care for a while, and while picking up my breakfast dropped the cup of coffee in my lap. This made it the perfect example of a terrible no good very bad day.
The X rays were bad, and I was sent to the hospital for emergency surgery to repair my broken elbow. I had broken the elbow with an open break and needed a plate and pins. I would spend the night in the hospital
The picture you see accompanying this article was taken by my wife after my surgery at Saratoga hospital. People have commented about my smile and wondered how I could smile with all those bad things happening at once. I guess I can explain it by my belief that in life it is hard to control the uncontrollable. My mother lived 93 great years and was a wonderful mother to myself and my three sisters.
I guess I can explain it because it's not the first time I have fallen. In fact it's the 4th time I've broken this arm since my 8th birthday. I guess I can explain it because no matter how bad a cup of coffee in your lap feels, it's never the worst thing that happened in anyone's day.
So, the next time you have a day where a customer doesn't buy or a prospect is rude or you drop a cup of coffee in your lap, remember things could be worse. Someone else is having a worse day and your positive attitude toward life will go a long way for you to move forward.
My mother taught me to be resilient, never start trouble, but to stand up for myself when I needed to. She taught me that some days are worse than others.
I hated losing at anything, especially high school sports. When I lost a wrestling match, she would tell me to do my best, and that I would get them next time. At the time, the lesson was lost on me. As I have gotten older, my mother’s voice resonates in my ears.
Betty Doyle didn’t drink or swear and had the voice of an angel. I still remember hearing her sing “Oh Holy Night” at Christmas on WKAJ radio. She taught us so much in her quiet way. The most important lesson was to do my best, and not give up. When I fell, it was my mother’s voice telling me to get up, and get them next time.
To paraphrase the end of the book, last Wednesday was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
My mom says some days are like that.