Lou Gehrig's Speech- assertion journal

Lou Gehrig's Speech

Lou Gehrig’s speech on Appreciation Day is one of the most defining moments of his career. He had recently been diagnosed with an incurable disease. This disease was virtually unknown at the time, and even though it was lethal, he continued living his life the way he wanted to, not allowing the disease to control him. In the face of this disease, however, he remained optimistic. He considered himself the luckiest man on earth, despite his “bad break.” He believed that the experiences he had, the people he had gotten to work with, and the support from not only his team, but his opponents as well contributed to his status as an extremely lucky man.

To some, Lou Gehrig’s overpowering optimism in spite of this disease seemed to almost give the impression that he was covering up for his fear of the future and what it brought for him. I believe that this is untrue, however; I think he truly is grateful for his life thus far. There is a sense of true sincerity behind his words; he really believes what he is saying.

I don’t think I could consider myself as lucky as Lou Gehrig in his situation. Even if I had the experiences that he had, the opportunities, the blessings, I don’t believe I could be as optimistic. I would attempt, but I would end up focusing on the negative at least somewhat. Lou Gehrig was an amazingly positive person, and I admire his outlook on life.