Living Lessons, pt.1 - A Lesson From the Shoe Shine Stand

Javier 

This is Javier. He has a shoe shine business in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Javier has shined shoes for 50 years. Javier is happy. Javier loves life. How do I know all this? I asked. (Though honestly, I really didn't need to.)

I sat down at the shoe shine stand because I could sit. Finally. Fitness trackers on two of my colleagues' phones logged the literal marathon distance we covered on foot in our few days in Vegas. So with a break in the action, I sat down at Javier's stand for a shoe shine; and received a lesson in living.

Javier was born in Mexico City. He loves his home country and he loves the US, his home of over 50 years. For those 50 years Javier has shined shoes, and lifted spirits. Some people are DRAGGERS and others are LIFTERS; in every interaction we have an opportunity to drag others down or lift them up. Javier is a LIFTER. He enjoys people. It is evident in his smile and in his words. I watched later in the day as two different men exited Javier's chair. Each shook his hand genuinely and talked for a few minutes - laughter, smiles and handshakes. I haven't received many shoe shines, but don't think this is normal protocol. It speaks to Javier's contagious attitude.

And there it is: ATTITUDE. Simply put, Javier's lesson is that life is what you make it. For you this is probably no major epiphany. I however, need the reminder. Many of our circumstances are not chosen. They are random and beyond our control. Yet what is never out of our control, is our opportunity and ability to respond. We alone control our attitude.

Volume upon volume has been written about attitude. The attitude to which I am referring - and what Javier lives - is much more than a "be-happy-attitude." His is a perspective, a worldview that is fundamentally positive. It is the way he chooses to view people, circumstances and the world around him. (Obviously I had an in-depth conversation with Javier. I'm not intuitive enough to have picked all this up between polish and buff).

Invictus is Latin, for unconquered. The person who chooses to never be a victim, no matter the circumstance, is unconquerable. External circumstances may not change. But the invictus perspective changes everything. And Javier is living, smiling proof.

William Henley's words have moved me from the first time I heard them. I would argue a couple of the specifics theologically. They speak powerfully however, of the will and attitude of the unconquered.

Until next time Javier, keep smiling, keep shining, keep LIFTING.

For now...
D

P.S. This is Salah. I can't wait to tell you his story!