What can the Marshall University Plane Crash Teach Us About Weight Loss?

On a dark and dreary rainy night, November 14th, 1970, The Marshall University Football Team was flying home from a loss versus the ECU Pirates.  The flight never made it.  The plane clipped some trees on the approach and hit the ground almost vertically killing all 75 people on board: the team, the crew, and prestigious alumni and boosters.  A town was devistated and left in ruins.  Hearts were crushed and smashed into thousands of pieces.  Children lost both parents.  Sons and daughters were no more.

That was 38 years ago to the day.  Although I was not born, the crash has a special significance in my heart and life.  I was born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia.  Many people I know were on the scene of that crash.  I have attended 100′s of Marshall football games. 

I just watched the rememberance ceremony which takes place this day every year in Huntington on the campus of Marshall University.  The Memorial Fountain at the student center is turned off. That got me thinking, on this day of sorrow, what lessons can we learn about life and weight loss?

The biggest lesson we can learn is how to overcome adversity.  Against all odds, the Marshall University football team was rebuilt and went on to become national champions time and again.  What adversity are you facing with your weight loss and life?  It can be overcome.  You have to start somewhere, and sometime.  That somewhere is here, and that sometime is NOW.  You can’t do it alone.  It took the help of 1000′s of people to help rebuild the team to reach the pinnacle of it’s success.  You can overcome, but you need a strong support group also. 

It also teaches us about not giving up.  Never quit, and never give in to anything.  You will have the naysayers and the energy vampires try to bring you down.  The same was true with the football team.  The thought it would be impossible to rebuild.  We proved them wrong.  You can as well.  Day in and day out, give your all.  Keep doing the little things right. Keep pushing yourself in the gym.   Then one day, everything will fall into place. 

The crash also teaches us about the enduring nature of the human spirit.  No matter how devistating something may be, it can be overcome.  In the darkness,  all you need is one ray of light.  You can be beat down, broken, and hopeless.  Let’s not forget, we can overcome, we can change, and we can make a better life and a better body.

What have we learned?  Nobody how hard it is, never give up on your weight loss goals.    You are going to be faced with adversity.  Overcome it, go around it, jump over it, dig a hole under it.  Lastly, your spirtit is indestructable.  No matter what you face today, your spirit is stronger than anything that can come against u.

I hope you guys enjoyed this very personal post.  I would love your comments and feedback. Also, I have attached a video of Nate Ruffin and his letter to the team.  I hope you enjoy it. 

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