Hamilton offers tips to seek joy
“I am a short, bald, chemo’d, brain-radiated, surgically repaired, male figure skater of unknown ethnic origin. What choice do I have but to be optimistic?”
Anyone fortunate enough to know Scott Hamilton will recognize his blunt humor in that passage from his soon-to-be-released book, “The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason to Be Miserable).”
If you don’t know Hamilton, the 1984 Olympic figure skating gold medalist, survivor of testicular cancer and a brain tumor, you will think of him as a friend after reading this book.
Due Jan. 6, it’s part self-help guide and part life manual with fatherly advice and reminders to seek joy amid everyday annoyances. It’s not a rehash of his autobiography, published in 2000.
“To do another book was not really in my plans,” he said.
Nor did he plan to get testicular cancer in 1997 or a pituitary brain tumor in 2004.
After that last medical ordeal – his third, starting with the childhood digestive disorder that stunted his growth – Hamilton began speaking to fellow brain tumor patients about the faith and philosophy that sustained him. From that came the book he felt compelled to write.
“You always joke about the old cliché, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – or leaves you disfigured for the rest of your life,” Hamilton said. “I look at the scars I’ve accumulated, and that skin is tougher than what was there before.
“I’ve got a familiar face. There’s more of it now than ever before. I felt I’ve experienced things for a reason and I’ve been able to help people going through cancer just by talking them through it.”
He structured the book in eight chapters to celebrate his affinity for the number eight.
Born on 8/8/58 (and adopted six weeks later), he spent thousands of hours tracing variations of the basic figure eight while practicing compulsory figures.
They demanded precision and patience but promoted edge control and body awareness, nuances lost on kids who wanted to jump and spin.
Learning to adapt has carried him through crises. After his Olympic triumph he spent two years with Ice Capades before being derided as old news.
He struck out on his own, creating a tour that became Stars on Ice and evolving from competitor to performer with gusto and crowd-pleasing wit.
He also went though what he called a wilderness phase before finding his wife, Tracie. He said he’s not “the king of happy” but has found a new purpose with her and their sons, 5-year-old Aidan and 11-month-old Maxx.
“A lot of people treat our lives as if we’re preparing for our lives. We’re not living it,” he said. “I see it every day – a lot of very sad people and people feeling like there is so much out of their control. Ultimately, it’s your life, your time here, your experience. It’s your responsibility. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.”