Small Things Count

“You can do anything if you just put your mind to it.”  We hear this often after a severely injured person has pushed through pain to low-odds recovery. We celebrate their great achievement. As well we should. What we shouldn’t do, though, is to say he succeeded because he put his mind to it. The problem with that message is that it promotes the belief that it’s true for everyone. Think about it. Can being strong-minded cure cancer that has spread throughout your body? Be able to walk unaided after polio has destroyed muscles that can’t be regrown? Continue running marathons after contracting COPD? Do everything you used to do before you turned 80? The message says you can, if you only set your mind to it. It’s a cruel statement, because it tells many people they’re weak-minded in addition to being weak of body. Next time you’re tempted to say that, remember that we should show respect and consideration to all people, and such a statement can be hurtful and unkind.