When working at the car dealership, we used to try to do things that would encourage customers to stay with us for life and to become a part of what felt like a family. We would hold different events or opportunities, but we probably executed this the best with our Camaro and Corvette Customers. It was a lot easier to do it with these customers because we lived so close to the Indianapolis 500. Thus, Chevrolet would help us by hosting some events at the track.
However, we tried to do things that made people feel “special”. Thus, when we did the “track event”, we paid for a police escort to the track. The police escort would take our customers into the track and then they would get a few laps around the track. This was followed up by a meal, a tour of the museum which is located underneath the track at the Indy 500, and usually a speaker. The museum at the track has all kinds of amazing things — old pace cars, previous winning cars, etc… We really wanted to make our customers “feel special” and thus “want” to always do business with us.
I was reminded of this as Dr. Hanna at IU Health invited me to some of their events. The most recent was an event at the Colts Complex. At this event they take you into the locker room at the Colts facility and provide opportunities to interact with some of the current Colts. It gives one a great idea of the size of some of the Colt players. You stand next to them and you wonder how any quarterback survives???
The event included a speech by Coach Chuck Pagano about the upcoming year. It also included some stories from current cancer survivors and a silent and live auction that was put on by the former punter of the Colts and a great entertainer — Pat McAfee. I love these type of events because it give you a chance to get out and to meet new people or get to know some people a whole lot better.
I really wanted to try to catch one of the balls that they “punt” up in the air with the machine or to catch one from Andrew Luck. However, I still think I have some “soft spots” in my body. It has not even been a year since I broke my arm and that has been a huge fiasco. I have no desire to ever be on pain meds again! The rehab has taken forever and I still do not have full range of motion. I am going to try to play a round of golf, but I am still not sure that is possible.
Unfortunately, these limitations are a reality. One never realizes just how good you have it until you “don’t have it anymore”. I have always been a very active person, and I am quickly realizing that I might be done with some activities. I absolutely loved snow skiing, but the thought of falling down a mountain again with my weak bones is absolutely terrifying. Thus, I am not sure that I will ever snow ski again… This whole experience makes me realize the true definition of being thankful. When experiences are no longer possible, one has a new appreciation for just how good we have it. A lot of bad things come from cancer, but the ability to recognize the great parts of life is actually a gift!