“Dare to be remarkable.” ~ Jane Gentry

These days, I hear people using words like genius, brilliant and amazing.  I hear these words used a lot.  Far too often, in fact.  And it’s clear the original definitions of these words are losing impact, as people often use them to describe a performance by an actor in the latest blockbuster film, an outfit Paris Hilton wore at a red carpet event or even a skill properly executed by an athlete.  Not to take anything away from hard working actors, Ms. Hilton’s stylist or my fellow athletes, but words like genius, brilliant and amazing really should be reserved for those truly breathtaking moments.  Historic moments.  Life-altering moments.

There is one word I don’t hear very often, though:  remarkable.  In fact, I almost feel uncomfortable just saying it:  remarkable.  This word carries a certain weight — it comes with a responsibility to preserve its integrity.  When I say or write the word remarkable, I find myself driven to excel — moved to stretch myself beyond human limitations.

What do you think about — and feel — when you say the word remarkable?

This week’s blog post quote is my personal tribute to a remarkable athlete and human being.  My dearly departed friend, Derrick “D.T.” Thomas will be posthumously inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame tomorrow (Saturday, August 8), and I couldn’t be more proud of the legacy this University of Alabama and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker has left the world.

“D.T.” lived a remarkable life.  He survived — and thrived — through a challenging childhood without his father who died serving his country as a B-52 bomber Air Force Captain in the Vietnam War.  He broke and set nearly every record imaginable — and won every prestigious award –  while starting for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, then went on to make history in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs by winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, setting the record for most quarterback sacks in a single game (seven sacks in one game…pretty remarkable) and going to the Pro Bowl nine times.  He collected so many awards during his years playing high school, college and pro football, I could devote an entire blog post solely to his achievements.

Remarkable.

And as dedicated as he was to his God-given athletic ability, “D.T.” was equally a steward of humanity.  The second he entered the NFL, he co-founded his charity Third and Long.  He devoted his Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays to those less fortunate than him.  He was a leader in his locker rooms and he understood the importance of preparation and knowing when to let instinct take over.   His contribution to the world was evidenced by the 30,000-plus people who attended both his memorial services in Kansas City and Miami — his hometown.  President Bill Clinton even sent condolences to his family.

Remarkable.

And while those of us who were closest to “D.T.” definitely still mourn the loss of our beloved friend, we also celebrate all the ways he will live forever.  As I witness his induction into the most coveted arena in professional sports, I will be grateful for the fact that he will live forever through his charter school — Derrick Thomas Academy.  I will be grateful that he will live forever through his children and their children.  I will be grateful that he will live forever through his many charitable involvements.  I will be grateful that he will live forever through his still unbroken records.  I will be grateful that he will live forever in my heart and in the hearts of so many others who knew him and loved him.

So for the next week, I’m challenging each of you to explore what you can do to contribute something remarkable to the world.  What remarkable thing can you contribute to your everyday life, requiring you to stretch yourself so far beyond your comfort zone that you would be completely lost if not for the staunch determination you have to focus on whatever is your ultimate prize?  How can you remarkably surprise yourself, the people you see every day and your critics?

Everyone has  remarkable in them.  For some, it’s right there on the surface — blossoming as I write this post.  For others, it’s lying dormant — waiting to be jarred loose, removed from its cage of inhibition and recognized as a force of nature.

Discover what makes you remarkable, and dare to expose it.

The entire world will benefit from your greatness.

Happy Stuck Landings,

Dee Dee

For more information about Derrick Thomas’ legacy, his Derrick Thomas Academy school and his Third and Long charity, visit the following sites:

Derrick Thomas article/images

www.derrickthomasacademy.org

www.thirdandlong.org