Not many people deserve the title of “hero” and many of those who are considered to be “heroes” by society are really not worthy of the title. But former Saints player Steve Gleason is a true hero and not because he blocked a kick in the Saints comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons in the Superdome that marked an incredible comeback for the city of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, but because of the courageous life he is leading today as he continues to survive and thrive with ALS.
Having lost his ability to speak, Steve Gleason talked to me through the amazing technology that converts movements of his eyes into speech. The physical sound of Steve’s surrogate voice lends to his miraculous ability to communicate.
Steve wanted to talk about his new book, “A Life Impossible,” and another opportunity to interview Steve was something I would cherish – not just for me, personally, but for my audience that I knew would be both touched and motivated by whatever Steve had to say.
Steve explained that his book is not about sports and it’s not about ALS – it was a book about having the courage to live life in the face of unbelievable challenges. Steve Gleason is physically bound and trapped in a wheelchair and he cannot speak, but his mind is as free as the wind and like the wind his thoughts touch everyone within his mechanical voice.
One remarkable aspect of Steve Gleason’s life is that Sunday he will be celebrating Father’s Day. Steve and his wife, Michel, have two children. The book, “A Life Impossible,” is about a young Steve Gleason and his life with his loving wife, Michel. Michel was a big part of the conversation and I asked her to share with us the first time she met Steve. They met through friends and Michel thought Steve was a “meathead” until she got to know him a little better. Today, they are a loving couple, in spite of the challenges they face in their ability to express and show love.
My conversation with Steve Gleason was about his book, which challenges us to meet and overcome the obstacles we all face in life. His book is about living life and taking on adversity and sharing your life with others.
During and after my conversation with Steve, I could only think about the problems and challenges we all face and how so many of those problems and challenges are petty relative to the problems and challenges Steve Gleason faces every moment of every day. I thought about the hate and vitriol that is part of everyday conversations about politics and the political leaders we either love or hate. I thought about how insignificant the things we define as dire are compared to the life of Steve Gleason and while so many Americans are whining and complaining that things aren’t the way they want them to be – Steve Gleason is setting a real-life example of focusing on what’s really important in life.
I wish to share my conversation with Steve Gleason with you in hopes that you will listen with an open mind and an ability to reclassify as insignificant those things that your ego has elevated to a life or death situation.
Michel said that after Steve blocked that punt in the rebirth game in the Dome he said that it was not the most important thing he would do. God seems to have chosen Steve Gleason to spread a message of love, hope, and living life in the face of severe challenges.
The blocked punt was just the beginning. But Steve Gleason’s story continues and he has the mind to formulate articulate messages about living life to the fullest.
Listen and be inspired!
