Of all the heartwarming insights and anecdotes shared regarding University of Louisville basketball player, Kevin Ware \u2014 the guard with the gruesomely shattered leg \u2014 the wisest words I\u2019ve yet to hear have come straight from the young man.<\/p>\n
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After surgery to repair his compound fracture, Ware was asked what it was like to awake and see the regional championship trophy, which Coach Rick Pitino had personally delivered to his room.\u00a0 Ware said, “It brought tears to my eyes.\u00a0 It was one of the greatest moments of my life.”<\/em>\u00a0 He continued to cry, when asked about the encouragement he\u2019s received from his teammates.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In other words, here when one man has the motive and moment to…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … play the victim…<\/p>\n … focus on the negative…<\/p>\n … claim \u2018woe is me\u2019…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Or when one could easily…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … blame someone else for his circumstances…<\/p>\n … shake his fist at the divine…<\/p>\n … or deny his current day reality…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here is this 20 year old college sophomore…<\/p>\n … with negative circumstances suddenly thrust upon him, who has remained upbeat, thankful, encouraging, and even, actually others-focused. \u00a0Ware poignantly added in this week’s ESPN interview, “I know my situation isn’t the worst.\u00a0 I’m truly blessed.”<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How many of the rest of us \u2014 perhaps even older than 20 \u2014 continue to count our blessings when the consequences seem bleak?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not Ware.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Earlier this season, Kevin Ware was suspended for 1 game by Coach Pitino for \u201cdisciplinary issues.\u201d\u00a0 At the time Pitino said Ware “isn’t coming back anytime soon.”\u00a0 While the specific details of the suspension were never released, those close to the program believe it was due to an attitude problem.\u00a0 Upon his return, Ware said the circumstances prompted him to re-evaluate his priorities and his place on the team.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Note:\u00a0 once again… no victim, negative, nor \u2018woe is me.\u2019\u00a0 Note also… again no blame nor shaking that fist at God.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Looks like we can learn much from young Mr. Ware.\u00a0 Looks like he continues to see how the negative can become a positive… how each of us can learn and grow from the most challenging of circumstances… how always, no matter what, we are truly blessed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I pray Ware continues to heal.\u00a0 I pray the world continues to watch…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … and hopefully we\u2019ll listen to him, too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n Of all the heartwarming insights and anecdotes shared regarding University of Louisville basketball player, Kevin Ware \u2014 the guard with the gruesomely shattered leg \u2014 the wisest words I\u2019ve yet to hear have come straight from the young man. After surgery to repair his compound fracture, Ware was asked what it was like to … <\/p>\n