In 1914 Thomas Edison’s factory caught fire and was completely destroyed. The compound, made of concrete, was thought to be impervious to fire, and therefore insured for just $238,000. It sustained more than two million dollars in damage- no small amount of coin in 1914. America’s all-time greatest inventor stood and watched most of his life’s work go up in flames, knowing that at 67 years of age, he now faced financial ruin. The next morning, Edison surveyed the ruins and calmly made the proclamation above. Those listening must have labeled him in deep denial, a rationalizing fool, or a stark raving lunatic.

Sometimes what we need is a different perspective on things, or a fresh start, and sometimes that has to be forced upon us. Very few of us can look disaster in the face and dispassionately find exciting benefit like the genius inventor did. But after a round of panicked freak out, reality is still going to be there, and kicking and screaming against what is will only cloud your thinking as you contemplate your next move. If you understand that change- even disastrous change -comes with the seed of an equal or greater benefit, you can cash in the fussing and fuming (and resultant anger and depression) and start looking for jewels amongst the rubble.

If you are currently facing disaster in your life, or have yet to heal from past wounds, this advice probably sounds glib or even cold. I understand. But you’ll have a tough time arguing that I am not qualified to make such an assertion. At 20 years of age, I was a starting running back for Southern Oregon University, on the school’s honor roll, and was well into execution of my dream of becoming a rock guitarist. I felt invincible. Within a few short months, I was told I had ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and should prepare to spend the next few years slowly suffering a horrifying death. That was mind scrambling for a 21 year-old kid who seemingly had life by the tail, so it took a while to find the jewel amidst the wreckage of my once promising life. But through my adversity and suffering, I have gained a perspective on, understanding of, and appreciation for life I could have gotten no other way. These have given rise to my roles as an inspirational writer and football coach at Lake Oswego High School. Read the following words from one of my former players and decide whether or not you think I have found a glittering diamond.

If you can read that letter and still look at my life as a tragedy, I’m not sure what I could do or say to make you feel differently. We can take whatever hand life deals us and fold, or we can change our perspective to turn that hand into victory. My body has withered and I must now rely on others for nearly everything. But after receiving dozens of letters and hundreds of emails like what you just read, I feel like I’m holding a royal flush. Even if you disagree, the very fact that I feel this way puts me in possession of a winning hand. As for our genius inventor, just after his life appeared destroyed, Thomas Edison had a breakthrough that allowed him to complete his invention of the phonograph within three weeks of the supposed demise of his empire. It’s all in perspective and what one chooses to value.

*Letter was included only after consultation with, and permission from, its author.