What we all can learn from this heart-attack survivor by Jennifer Lohr
Today I welcome my first guest to the chalet, a man named Matt Harris. I began following Matt on Facebook a little over a year ago and found him to be an interesting and inspiring individual. His posts expressing his love of his family and positivity grew even more meaningful to me and his other followers after Matt suffered a heart attack in mid-2017. He's learned an awful lot more than most about life in general; and his message of hope, positivity, and survival is important to share because I believe we all can learn something from his example.
1. Please tell me a little about yourself...I understand you're a husband, father, and even a musician - how would you describe yourself?
Matt: I am a man that wears many hats. Born in 1969 in Carmel, California. One of five children to a stay-at-home mother and a father who worked at the executive level and served in the military, I was an ARMY brat. I am hard-working, passionate, an empath (at times to a fault), and very loyal. I get bored easy so I am always trying something new, and I push myself pretty hard in most things.
2. How do you structure your days? Were they different prior to having your heart attack, and if so, how has that changed?
Matt: I structure my days to start mellow and then work up from there. I am not really a morning person. After my heart attack I cut so much out of my life that was so unnecessary. Starting with stress - if it upsets me more than once, I get rid of whatever it is. Now it's all about family, health, and goals.
3. Where and how do you feel at your best?
Matt: I feel my best when I am able to have one-on-one interactions with people, helping out when I am able, hugging my wife and daughter, playing guitar, and shooting my bow. I also enjoy being alone.
4. What tools do you find indispensable for maintaining balance in your life?
Matt: To maintain balance in life, for me - is not depleting my energy, not watch the news daily, surround myself with good-hearted and positive people. Taking care of oneself physically and mentally cannot be stressed enough as I have found out.
5. How do you manage your stress, and is it different from before the heart attack?
Matt: I manage my stress-levels much different now, post-heart attack. I make sure I only take on what I know I can accomplish, I make no promises that I cannot keep, if I feel myself starting to stress to an unhealthy level I leave that situation for bit - truth be told: unlike in the past, I come first now and I am not sorry for that. The old me would have been.
6. What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?
Matt: What would I have done differently? A few things... I would have pursued an academic path in education, I would have liked to have been a teacher to Special Ed children. I would never have picked up a cigarette - what a nightmare that has been.
7. What's the best advice you have ever received?
Matt: The best advice I have ever received - as generic as it may be - "do unto others." It really is true - you get what you put out in life.
8. Who are your biggest influences or who do you admire the most?
Matt: My biggest influences would have to be my parents. They really went the extra mile for us children. Coming from a family of five it wasn't an easy task, but my folks always made sure we were cared for and felt special.
9. What are still your biggest challenges?
Matt: My biggest challenges - WOW, I could go on for hours with this question (LOL). I get frustrated pretty easy. I suffer from ADD and I am very dyslexic so each day is always an up-hill battle. I do have a temper and I always have to be mindful of that, so the two together can get overwhelming.
10. What's your best advice for handling life's challenges?
Matt: My advice for life's challenges is not to internalize other people's issues and problems. Make sure your bucket is full before you expend yourself.
11. Any surprising lessons that you have learned along the way that you would like to share?
Matt: Surprising lessons? Hmm... well, you are what you think you are. Put good things in your head and good things will come out. I have noticed over the last nearly fifty years that folks who wallow in pity, take in negative stimulation, and eat poorly bring everyone down around them. Do not be a part of that.
12. How do you balance work and family demands?
Matt: I balance my work and family demands in a simple manner - family first ALWAYS.
13. What's next for you?
Matt: What's next for me? I will be working on my personal goals intently. Health and family, archery, wood burning art, and working on our retirement home we just purchased.
14. What do you want your legacy to be - how do you want to be remembered?
Matt: My legacy? I'd like to be known as the fellow who looked at the silver lining in every dark cloud, helped out all he could, and be remembered as a good gentleman.
When I thanked Matt for agreeing to the interview and for taking the time to answer my questions, he returned it with one of his own and thanked me for asking him to do this. Like he said: you put in what you get out, and to his insight I can only say: thank you, Matt.
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I'm very humbled and honored to introduce: Matt
1. Please tell me a little about yourself...I understand you're a husband, father, and even a musician - how would you describe yourself?
Matt: I am a man that wears many hats. Born in 1969 in Carmel, California. One of five children to a stay-at-home mother and a father who worked at the executive level and served in the military, I was an ARMY brat. I am hard-working, passionate, an empath (at times to a fault), and very loyal. I get bored easy so I am always trying something new, and I push myself pretty hard in most things.
2. How do you structure your days? Were they different prior to having your heart attack, and if so, how has that changed?
Matt: I structure my days to start mellow and then work up from there. I am not really a morning person. After my heart attack I cut so much out of my life that was so unnecessary. Starting with stress - if it upsets me more than once, I get rid of whatever it is. Now it's all about family, health, and goals.
3. Where and how do you feel at your best?
Matt: I feel my best when I am able to have one-on-one interactions with people, helping out when I am able, hugging my wife and daughter, playing guitar, and shooting my bow. I also enjoy being alone.
4. What tools do you find indispensable for maintaining balance in your life?
Matt: To maintain balance in life, for me - is not depleting my energy, not watch the news daily, surround myself with good-hearted and positive people. Taking care of oneself physically and mentally cannot be stressed enough as I have found out.
5. How do you manage your stress, and is it different from before the heart attack?
Matt: I manage my stress-levels much different now, post-heart attack. I make sure I only take on what I know I can accomplish, I make no promises that I cannot keep, if I feel myself starting to stress to an unhealthy level I leave that situation for bit - truth be told: unlike in the past, I come first now and I am not sorry for that. The old me would have been.
6. What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?
Matt: What would I have done differently? A few things... I would have pursued an academic path in education, I would have liked to have been a teacher to Special Ed children. I would never have picked up a cigarette - what a nightmare that has been.
7. What's the best advice you have ever received?
Matt: The best advice I have ever received - as generic as it may be - "do unto others." It really is true - you get what you put out in life.
8. Who are your biggest influences or who do you admire the most?
Matt: My biggest influences would have to be my parents. They really went the extra mile for us children. Coming from a family of five it wasn't an easy task, but my folks always made sure we were cared for and felt special.
9. What are still your biggest challenges?
Matt: My biggest challenges - WOW, I could go on for hours with this question (LOL). I get frustrated pretty easy. I suffer from ADD and I am very dyslexic so each day is always an up-hill battle. I do have a temper and I always have to be mindful of that, so the two together can get overwhelming.
10. What's your best advice for handling life's challenges?
Matt: My advice for life's challenges is not to internalize other people's issues and problems. Make sure your bucket is full before you expend yourself.
11. Any surprising lessons that you have learned along the way that you would like to share?
Matt: Surprising lessons? Hmm... well, you are what you think you are. Put good things in your head and good things will come out. I have noticed over the last nearly fifty years that folks who wallow in pity, take in negative stimulation, and eat poorly bring everyone down around them. Do not be a part of that.
12. How do you balance work and family demands?
Matt: I balance my work and family demands in a simple manner - family first ALWAYS.
13. What's next for you?
Matt: What's next for me? I will be working on my personal goals intently. Health and family, archery, wood burning art, and working on our retirement home we just purchased.
14. What do you want your legacy to be - how do you want to be remembered?
Matt: My legacy? I'd like to be known as the fellow who looked at the silver lining in every dark cloud, helped out all he could, and be remembered as a good gentleman.
When I thanked Matt for agreeing to the interview and for taking the time to answer my questions, he returned it with one of his own and thanked me for asking him to do this. Like he said: you put in what you get out, and to his insight I can only say: thank you, Matt.
If you enjoyed reading this please be sure to share Matt's uplifting story: the gentleman who survived a heart attack and keeps his focus on that silver lining.
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