JohnA Passaro

I know the answer to improving Jess's condition doesn't lay in tears the answer is in sweat.

The best thing you can say to someone going through a tragic loss is not that"It's going to be alright"It is:"Hold on tight because this is going to hurt like hell".

This holiday season I learned the vue if presence over presents.

If you had one last breath - what would you say?If you had one hour to use your limbs before you would lose the use of them forever - would you sit there on the coach?If you knew that you wouldn't see tomorrow who would you make amends with?If you knew you had only an hour left on this earth - what would be so pressing that you just had to do it, say it, or see it?Well there is something that I can guarantee - that one day you will have one day, one hour and one breath left.Just make sure that before that day that you have said, done and experienced everything that you dream of doing now.Do it now - that is what today is for.So pick up the phone and call an old friend that you have fallen out of touch with.Get out and run a mile and use your body and sweat.Seek out someone in your life to say your sorry to. Seek someone In your life that you need to thank. Seek someone in your life that you need to express your feelings of love to.Then when that day comes you will be ok with it all.

I am noticing a big difference in the way the hospital workers are looking at me as I approach Jess__ room.The look of sincere sympathy that used to be on their faces when they made eye contact with me is gone.It has been replaced by shear helplessness as they quickly walk past me with their heads tilted down and to the right.I feel like Bud Fox walking into his office with the Securities and Exchange Commission awaiting him.

Just do the next right thing.Then repeat indefinitely.

Sometimes life is your opponent and just showing up is a victory.

If we do not feel grateful for what we already have, what makes us think we would be happy with more?

Whose team are you on?_ I ask him. _ __ don__ follow you _ what do you mean whose team am I on?_ he asks. _ __ mean, you want your son back and there are forces in this world that want to take him from you. There is a battle going on. Sides have been taken, John__ team is his family and the other team is everything that you don__ want for your son. Walking away is the exact thing that the other side wants. Instead of walking away, you need to fight._ _ I add: __reat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be and he will become what he should be.

There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of their brawl all beat up and battered, obviously both fighters gave all they had to win, and Apollo Creed says to Rocky - "Your not getting a rematch" and Rocky says "I don't want one".I love that scene. That's when you know that you left no doubt - that your opponent, win or lose, never wants to compete against you ever again. That's fighting.

There will never be "the right time" in your life to do a great thing. You must create that time and greatness will follow.