Today my post has nothing to do with Fashion. I had something completely different planned but was so blown away last night by ESPN’s 30 For 30 on Terry Fox, that I decided to change it up.
Too often, (I will speak for myself here) I get wrapped up in what doesn’t matter. I think we all do. Everything truly happens as it is supposed to and we can’t change what we can’t control. Take Seth McFarlane, creator of Family Guy, who missed his flight to LA on September 11th, 2001 by 5 minutes as an example. A series of events occurred that morning that ultimately saved his life. When asked if he lives differently because of it, he says no. He believes it was just a coincidence and will not let that define the rest of his life. Similar to Terry who didn’t allow his cancer diagnosis or his disability to stop him. He was profoundly succesful in his quest of raising awareness for Cancer in the early 1980’s when nobody was talking about it. Imagine if he had allowed self-doubt, exhaustion or politics to change his course. He was the ultimate Iron Man.
After watching the inspirational documentary last night, I realize Terry served his purpose in life. It has been 30 years since his fateful run across Canada on one leg and in that time, according to the documentary, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $500 MILLION dollars for cancer research. How can we ever calculate what that has meant for others who have been stricken with the disease since his passing? The impact of his determination is astounding. I kept telling myself, this is not a movie, Terry is NOT a character and this story was not written by David Benioff, Quentin Tarantino or Jason Reitman. It was life at its most inspiring and most unfair.
The next time I find myself getting wrapped up in the unimportant details, I will think of him and all that he went through and change my tune. For Terry, the run was much more than raising money. I don’t think he realized when he started but he was living the next 60-70 years of his life in those 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi). It is the most noble ending ever written.
For a lighter take on it, I am totally inspired. My husband and I are running the Manhattan Beach 10K on Saturday and I am not in my best running shape. Besides Terry Fox, music is what will inspire me to finish strong. I asked some of my closest friends for a list of their “ultimate, inspiring, makes you run faster, want to fist pump and air pull songs” so I can share them with you. If you can’t run, put music on and dance around in your living room. It is very difficult to be stressed, upset, sad, blue or all of the above if you are jumping around to your favorite jam. Try it and let me know how it goes.
Here is the Luella Top 40
(in no particular order, click on song for video)
1. Freakshow – Britney Spears
2. Fighter – Christina Aguilera
3. Long Way to Happy – P!NK
4. Better Off Dead – Bad Religion
5. Midnight Show – The Killers
6. Right Now – Van Halen
7. Love the Way You Lie – Eminem Featuring Rihanna
8. No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age
9. Make Me – Janet Jackson
10. Changes – Tupac
11. Teeth – Lady Gaga
12. Mercy Me – Alkaline Trio
13. Lovestoned – Justin Timberlake
14. Young Forever – Jay Z Featuring Mr. Hudson
15. Dirty Diana – Michael Jackson
16. Rock Show – Blink 182
17. DJ Got Me Falling in Love – Usher
18. An Open Letter to NYC – Beastie Boys
19. Breathe Me – Sia
20. Robot Rock – Daft Punk
21. Don’t Stop the Music – Rihanna
22. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
23. Jar of Hearts – Christina Perri
24. Optimistic Thought – Blues Traveler
25. Loca – Shakira + Dizee Rascall
26. Chances – Five for Fighting
27. Again Today – Brandi Carlile
28. Rap Game – D12
29. Telephone – Lady Gaga Featuring Beyonce
30. At the End – iiO
31. Scream – Michael Jackson
32. Rearview Mirror – Pearl Jam
33. Heartbreaker – P!NK
34. Play Your Part (Part 1) – Girl Talk
35. On Fire – Eminem
36. Misery Business – Paramore
37. You Lost Me – Christina Aguilera
38. Holding Out for a Hero – Bonnie Tyler
39. Use Somebody – Kings of Leon
40. Repo Man – Ray LaMontagne
Feel Free to comment with some of your own. I can use as much inspiration on Saturday for my run, and through life in general; we all can. Be good to yourself and to those you love.
Related Articles
- Terry Fox on 30 For 30: History, Video of Canadian Icon (nowpublic.com)
- Three decades after his death, Terry Fox’s inspiration runs strong (nationalpost.com)
- Nash’s film an ode to boyhood hero Terry Fox (theprovince.com)
Luella says... 