Arnold Schwarzenegger may be best known for his indestructible titular role in the 1984 film The Terminator.
But the Golden Globe winner is far from invincible, as he’s been vocal about his health scares in the past.
He opened up about his emergency open-heart surgery Sunday in an uplifting virtual commencement speech for graduates who are stuck at home amid COVID-19.
Class of 2020: Arnold Schwarzenegger opened up about his emergency open-heart surgery Sunday in an uplifting virtual commencement speech for graduates who are stuck at home amid COVID-19
The 72-year-old gave the speech for ATTN:, comparing his experience with the world’s current situation.
He said: ‘I can promise you that this virus won’t be the last obstacle you face. But it can help you prepare for the next one.
‘That’s what life is all about, overcoming obstacles. Throughout your whole life, you will see obstacles being thrown in front of you like that.’
Arnold then recounted his 2018 surgery, which was originally supposed to be a noninvasive procedure to install a heart valve.
Facing obstacles: He said: ‘I can promise you that this virus won’t be the last obstacle you face. But it can help you prepare for the next one’
Emergency surgery: Arnold then recounted his 2018 surgery, which was originally supposed to be a noninvasive procedure to install a heart valve
He’ll be back: Although it left him hospitalized for longer than he expected, he got through it by visualizing his goal of being onset for Terminator Genisys just days later
The Predator star detailed: ‘They said they broke through the heart wall, and there was internal bleeding, and I could have died if they didn’t open up my sternum and do open-heart surgery.’
Although it left him hospitalized for longer than he expected, he got through it by visualizing his goal of being onset for Terminator Genisys just days later.
He said: ‘That’s what I was shooting for. So, I started declaring little victories. After I did the first 500 steps with the walker, I declared victory. After I had an appetite again to eat normal, I declared victory.’
Arnold added: ‘No matter how successful you are, life will throw obstacles in your path like it was with my heart surgery or like with your graduation now.
‘But if you have a very clear vision like I talked about earlier, of exactly what you want to do, and who you want to be, you can go and find a way around all of those obstacles.’
He then managed to shade Donald Trump, as he continued: ‘Think back over the last four years, the struggle that you went through to get this degree now…
Worthless degree: He then managed to shade Donald Trump, as he held up his honorary doctorate from Trump University, saying: ‘This is nothing. We all have these pieces of papers’
Quarantine look: He ended the speech on a comical note, stepping out from behind his podium to reveal that he wasn’t wearing pants with his suit jacket
‘Those are the things that you will remember, not just this degree. You are celebrating that journey today, not just a piece of paper that you hang on the wall.’
The former Governor of California held up his honorary doctorate from Trump University, as he said: ‘This is nothing. We all have these pieces of papers.’
He ended the speech on a comical note, stepping out from behind his podium to reveal that he wasn’t wearing pants with his suit jacket: ‘My calves look okay, so don’t worry about my pants now.’
Arnold recently celebrated his son Christopher’s remote graduation with a photoshopped image of the 22-year-old in a cap and gown.
The proud father-of-five wrote: ‘Christopher, you are a champion and I love you. I know your graduation from Michigan wasn’t the big celebration you dreamed about for years, but walking across a stage isn’t what makes me so proud of you.
‘It’s your compassion, your hard work, your vision, your critical thinking, and your selflessness that make me burst with pride. I can’t wait to watch you keep climbing and succeeding.’
Proud dad: Arnold recently celebrated his son Christopher’s remote graduation with a photoshopped image of the 22-year-old in a cap and gown