When it comes to heroes, clichés exists for a reason
HUNTLEY ADDIE, Freelance
Published: 4 hours ago
I don't know about you, but it irks me something fierce when people dismiss a truth because they feel it is a cliché.

For example, take the saying: "Everything happens for a reason." Some might suggest that this is a clichéd expression, and subsequently ignore it. I believe in this saying inherently.

Last week, I met with Tony Proudfoot at the Topaz restaurant in the Plaza Pointe Claire shopping centre. My hope was to find out how he wa faring in his fight with Lou Gehrig's disease.

I had last interviewed him in June. I had hoped to put those thoughts down for this column today, in anticipation of the Walk for ALS this Saturday at Parc Maisonneuve in Montreal.
At one point in the interview Proudfoot said, "I'm getting worse. And I'm facing more and more every day that this thing is real.

"I'm dying, but I'm certainly not going to whine about it. After all, we're all dying.

"Perhaps I just see the finish line more clearly than most."

I asked him how that feels.

He paused, not awkwardly, but pensively. It took a few minutes before he breathed a small almost-laugh and said, "I don't want to sound cliché. I really don't. But, here it is: I have to live for right now.

"We all do. I manage what I can manage. I don't look at just living for the day; I look at how I'm living each day.

"Ironically, I've had one of my best summers."

Everything happens for a reason.

On Friday, a few short days after the interview, our graduating class was graced with a presentation by a wonderful motivational speaker named Ian Tyson. I have seen Tyson speak a few times. Every time, I take something new and run with it.

I sat in our assembly with my journalism students and was very happy to share some time beside a good friend's daughter, Michelle. I watched Tyson without expectation of him saying anything specifically to me. Instead, I focused on young Michelle's wonderful reactions.

That was until he said suddenly: "I believe everything happens for a reason."

And something shifted in me.

He told a story of how he has started jogging. He drew parallels between the walls that pop up physically during a run with the walls that life throws up at us.

Being a jogger, I was easily drawn into these comparisons.

My thoughts shifted to the ALS Walk on Saturday, and then back to Proudfoot. On cue, Tyson climaxed his jogging analogy with; "Pain is inevitable; misery is a choice."

I'll repeat it: "Pain is inevitable; misery is a choice."

Proudfoot had said that the paramount frustration that he is having presently with his illness is how it is affecting his speech.

"Every now and then, my wife doesn't understand me," he smiled. "In my head, it's all crystal clear. But when I speak now, it comes out limited. I end up sounding stupid.

"And in the past five months, I've lost 20 pounds. Not because I wanted to. It just takes too long to eat and swallow. I'll want two hamburgers, but I've had to settle more and more for one; otherwise, I'd still be eating.

"But I'm not going to whine about it. Things could always be worse."



The last time we were together, we ate lunch. This time, we only ordered drinks. I had two beers, while he only drank half his Coke.

Ironically, Proudfoot then said, "You know, if you ask me how I see life right now, there is no longer a question of is my glass half empty or half full. My glass is three-quarters empty. That's the truth.

"But, it's what's in the glass that really counts."

I spoke to Tyson immediately after his wonderful performance. He had handed everyone a ticket stub to hold on to as a reminder of the show we had all shared. On the back of the ticket are written some terms and conditions, including: "Ticket holder acknowledges that there is a hero inside all of us."
It continues: "A hero is someone who doesn't give up, in spite of the walls and obstacles in their way, and will not stop running - ever."

I'll be walking with Proudfoot on Saturday, and I'll be forever hoping that everything happens for a reason.

Please visit www.sla-quebec.com for information on the walk Saturday.

Huntley Addie takes it one day at a time at John Rennie High School.

http://www.canada.com:80/montrealgaz...3-1d15c8a5a157