Remembering Peter Zezel: A Moment Away From Hockey

Peter Zezel's passing is a tragedy to the hockey world and all those who knew him, but it's also a realization to each individual that we all possess a beating heart, one that is capable of accomplishing many things--even changing the world, one person at a time.

I've never met Zezel personally, but my good friend Bruce "Scoop" Cooper, who has worked in hockey for over four decades in Philadelphia, knew him from the time he was drafted. Scoop enlightened me on many stories involving Zezel, and his bright personality. Zezel was an individual who understood the concept of life. He unraveled its dilemmas by searching within, and as each obstacle was hurdled, he became a stronger person. In the end, it helped him understand the greatest concept of all: If you reach out to someone, and help them realize how special life is, you're not only changing their lives, you are changing hundreds, thousands or even millions.

Let me start by stating that anyone can change the world. Every individual plays their part, and we all have a place in our hearts and minds which enables us to think outside the box, we just have to realize the complexities of life, and the many mysteries it entails. And these mysteries aren't a bad thing, on the contrary, they are the essence of life, and they allow us to push forward.

There's a concept called "pay it forward." This concept, unlike many others we are accustomed to, is perhaps the most important in regards to unraveling the mystery of life. We will never know everything, but instead of sheltering ourselves from the answers, we can help each other--whether it be a good deed, a personal talk, anything. In the end, this helps us not only understand life, but also ourselves, which in turn helps us enjoy the many aspects that makes life such a special place. The key is, you must ask the individual you helped to pass on that wisdom to others, so this feeling (this is the best word to describe its power) may be shared by others.

If you are familiar with the concept, perhaps it is because you viewed the film, which was released in 2000. The film had an inspiring message that everyone, I believe, relates to. The question is, do they realize it yet? Here's a quote I particularly liked:

"What if the world is just a big disappointment? Unless, you take the things that you don’t like about this world, and you flip them upside down."

I believe that every individual has the power to change their thoughts. In order to alter our thought process, however, we must first realize the strengths and weaknesses. Once we do that, it's about training our minds to change. Life was meant to be lived and enjoyed. So why think negative and neglect our minds from happiness and growth? Just think about it, when you see someone who is truly happy, and is successful in life, how do you think they attained that level? By being miserable and unhappy? No, by realizing that WE control our thoughts, and WE have the power to make a difference.

These are all lessons I've learned from my good friend, Scoop. He, like Zezel, understands how to reflect on life, and how to grow as individuals from the many obstacles we all face. The only way we learn is by making mistakes.

While Zezel's passing is a tragic affair, I don't believe his heart has stopped beating. It beats. It beats in all the individuals he helped during his rewarding life.