That's Alex Smith, quarterback of the Washington football team.

We're gonna talk about.

The idea of attitude is free.

It's a clothing line that you're part of, and and it's an idea and a slogan that's behind, Really.

I think a lot of this come back.

And Alex, I I remember back to you and I talking back in the middle of the pandemic about this possibility.

And since you and I spoke on the air, you got back out on the field and I feel like me and everybody that was watching was that we felt the same as your family.

We were so thrilled.

And yet here comes down along like Oh, God, I hope he's OK.

How do you describe what that whole thing was about and like?

Well, for me, the first thing that that jumps out at me was that the range of emotions on that day certainly, uh, the feeling of being alive once your numbers called and I was running out there.

Obviously, this has been almost two years in the making for me to get back out on the field And that's why I came back at that feeling.

Um, you know that opportunity and and something that I missed.

And I'm thankful thankful for it that obviously things have progressed far enough that I get to play football every day.

Still.

Ah.

Now I've got to run out there, obviously on and get back out on the field and the feeling of getting out there and mixing it up, Um, and playing this game, I love what was amazing.

Um, obviously little baptism by fire with Aaron.

Donald certainly didn't think he was gonna jump on my back, but, uh, great way to great, great way Thio test my test, my leg and for me was it was amazing.

Like I said, to get back out there and Thio play the game.

I love to get tackled to mix it up.

It was obviously hard to put into words.

Well, you and your wife designed the shirt in The idea that I talk about attitude is free, and the idea is just live, and I can't imagine anything would make you feel more alive than having to deal with the defensive player of the Year.

Unfortunately for you and your team kind of living in your backfield that day.

I imagine you feel incredibly alive and also maybe a little bit had to be a little bit frightening as well.

How do you describe that?

Yeah, I mean, that za life.

You said it the good and the bad.

And for me, I spent I spent a long time in a wheelchair.

Um, not being able to do anything.

I spent a lot of days, you know, on on a walker and and months and months and months on crutches and for me constantly wondering in my thoughts what I'd ever be able to do again.

And, you know, just dreaming about being able to walk normally.

And you have to go on a hike with my wife or play with my kids and thankful to me, thankful enough that it that it kept progressing.

And for me, I think a lot of people question why would even be playing again and and for me, I'm going to make the most of it.

I'm going to live, and, uh, I got this opportunity.

And like I said, I'm living every day, and I'm gonna go out there and make the most of it and thankful for it.

So, uh, enjoying it, enjoying everything about it, Putting the past back on my helmet.

Like I said There, you know, you don't know when when when It's going to be your last day.

And like I said, just just enjoying the process and being out there playing football again.

I know how much you wanted your wife, especially your kids to see Dad do it like all the all you work for had had a finish line that had a satisfying outcome.

Other the result in whatever you're out there doing it again.

What was the satisfaction Alex in that, just being able to look up and have them see their pop doing what he does?

Yeah, it was It was amazing in the sense that you know our first couple home games.

We didn't have any fans there, and luckily enough, that was the first game that just family was allowed to attend in the stands.

And obviously it was it was It was a rainy, sloppy day and I swear there was probably only 150 fans in the stands and it was kind of like a high school game.

So my my my wife and kids were right there.

I mean, I could hear them cheering the whole game, Uh, could look up in the stands, and I feel like I could have a conversation with them.

So very intimate in that sense and and thankful that they got to be there with me, uh, to experience that has Really.

I mean, obviously, I've relied on so many people to get here over the last two years.

Um, but no more than my wife.

She's she's been through so much.

And for her to be there and share that with me and my kids as well, uh, to have been through this entire process with me day in and day out and obviously to have them their share it with me was was really special.

The idea of just live Alex for you.

Looking forward.

How much does the fact that you got to get back out there again, allow your attitude right?

And the idea of your life toe look forward without this nagging thought of it?

What if I don't?

Because you did it.

You've already done it.

So it does that free you up toe Look at the rest of life in a different way.

Yeah, you know, for me that that just lived Also, is that that self doubt?

Sometimes, you know, we all have that voice in our head.

Sometimes it creeps in and that negative thoughts And for me, it's about eliminating that thought and for me Ah, the ease of just go Just just living, you know, and for me that obviously you could put it out there and it's okay.

And obviously failure is a part of life, and it might happen.

Um, and and for me, though, it's about making the most of the opportunities you have.

And I'm certainly not going to be controlled by fear.

Ah, you know, a scary as it is sometimes, uh, you know, and for me that that was the mindset.

No question to obviously to have gone out there last Sunday was was really special.

But for me, it's it's funny.

It was, and I felt like it was another step for me.

Finally, from the from the whole contact perspective, to gone out there and get you know that I could get hit and get tackled, and I'm going to be fine.

And for me now to move forward and and kind of continuing with playing quarterback, you know, and being the best that I could be right on.

They say, uh, they say attitudes really, truly, Alex, the one thing in life we can choose to be in charge of every day, right?

I mean, that's the really the essence of all that we're saying here.

I suppose if we boiled it down right, no doubt.

I think through it all.

You know, you talk about controlling what you can control.

And the number one thing is attitude, you know.

And obviously life throws a lot of things at us, good and bad, and certainly how we respond in our attitude of mind sets the biggest part of that.

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