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If you haven’t been following what happened to U2 lead singer Bono, I’ll catch you up quickly. Last month he was cycling in Central Park, wiped on his bike, ended up in the hospital and yesterday (January3rd) he announced on his blog that he may never play the guitar again.
DAD wanted to share a few thoughts with Bono so if you know him, or are hanging out with him, make sure to read this to him.
Bono-
I know right now things seem dark and bleak; I have been there and know what you are going through. No! I was not one of the most awesome rock stars in the world, but I did suffer an immeasurable personal loss at the time “I wanted to run, I wanted to hide, I wanted to tear down the walls that hold me inside.”
I was a marathon runner and Ironman triathlete, it was a part of my personally identity, I used racing as a platform for charity, as an example for my children and as a way to inspire others…sound familiar?
All of that was violently taken away at the careless actions of another person. I was left paralyzed, broken and unable to walk, let alone run. My legs destroyed, my spine destroyed, my spirit crushed, darkness, sorrow and anger became my new friends as I sat and “glorified the past when my future had dried up.”
“I was drowning in my sorrows, but my sorrows they learned to swim.”
Healing was painful, slow and seemed endless, however I was healing and so will you. I found new inspiration from the things that matter most, my family. Though I may never run again, I was alive and able to feel and experience them, which is better than the alternative. Being healthy, being there for them, being a part of their lives was my inspiration to never give up on getting better. I am able to play with them, share with them and be their father, better than crossing any finish line.
Let Eve, Jordan, John and Elijah be your source of healing energy. If you never play the guitar again, it’s a bummer, but not “the end of the world as we know it.” Your words, your deeds, your many charitable actions have always and will continue to inspire people near and far: you are a role model for your kids as well as the countless millions you will never meet remember “kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, but you go on,” and your impact on the world will continue long after you stop making music. That is something to be proud of.
Bono, I know you are down. This is a hard time, but you can rise up again and you will continue to do great things, from a stage, a dinner table or someplace completely new. If you are feeling down and want to go for a walk and talk things through, give me a call, I can still walk and I can still talk and for that I thankful for, every single day.
Remember- “You can dream, so dream out loud.”
DAD
