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Sometimes, something happens that makes you realize that it’s great to be alive. When you have such a moment, then you sit down and enjoy it and thank whatever god you pray for having your health.
I had such a moment a few days ago. While getting dressed that particular morning, I put on a yellow “Relay for Life” T-shirt. I’ve got five of them and no, I didn’t have cancer, but my mother did. She was diagnosed with breast cancer over twenty years ago, went through the surgery and now at the tender age of 72 years old is still going strong. You’ve got to admire the old gal, she can still pull her weight and is actually very handy to have around the “Lodges”.
This disease, nicknamed the “Big C” is quite the thing, isn’t it? It can kill you and at best if you survive the ordeal, you’re left battered looking at a long road to recovery. I won’t get into who’s got or had it as we all have been personally affected by it in one way or another. However, the other afternoon, while driving to my training area, I was reviewing where my life had gone in the last ten years and started thinking about an old army buddy that had come to visit in 2001. At the time what I didn’t know was that he had terminal cancer and had come to say goodbye. Simply put, he was driving home to Halifax to die. In those days, I was the “young upcoming entrepreneur” and was too busy working on my third million. Don’t get me wrong, I was really more than happy to see Bob that particular day but was too focused on my work and didn’t have the time to actually sit down and chat with him. So the next morning, he politely said farewell and headed to Nova Scotia where he flamed out two months later. “Wow” I said to Fran when she announced the news to me, “he didn’t even look sick”. “If only I would have known…”
Yeah, if only I would have known… This statement or a derivative of it is something that we’ve all said to ourselves at one point or another in our lives. However, when you face that particular situation, most of the time, it’s too late and we’re left holding an “empty bag”. 2001 was a very notorious year for me. That’s the year I was hit by the perfect storm and hit financial “rock bottom”. Whatever was happening in the world at the time, I had no control over any of it. But one thing was for sure. I had been sucked in this enormous “sink hole” and was some discouraged to tackle the then very bleak future. If only I would have known was something I had said to myself on many occasions then. I guess that’s why they call it the future. The only prediction that you can make about it is to say that it’s unpredictable. Anyway, we soldiered on, adapted to the situation and survived.
So that day, while riding my old “Suzuki Samurai” through the woods, I was satisfied as to how things had turned around. Somehow, I had managed to get to the point of my life where I finally had some inner peace and was happy with myself. Oh sure, it’s not all bells and whistles and I still have my moments but in general “Life is good”. Personally, choosing to have a very simple lifestyle was the best thing that I have ever done. It can afford me the luxury of running “sled dogs”. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than to be out there in full nature with a bunch of loyal dogs that aren’t playing the “What’s in it for me” game.
Today, that’s the point I’m trying to make. If you’re missing it, it is really simple. Although it’s important to plan for the future, it is most important to consider living for the moment as tomorrow might never come. Yeah, if only I would have known…
I had such a moment a few days ago. While getting dressed that particular morning, I put on a yellow “Relay for Life” T-shirt. I’ve got five of them and no, I didn’t have cancer, but my mother did. She was diagnosed with breast cancer over twenty years ago, went through the surgery and now at the tender age of 72 years old is still going strong. You’ve got to admire the old gal, she can still pull her weight and is actually very handy to have around the “Lodges”.
This disease, nicknamed the “Big C” is quite the thing, isn’t it? It can kill you and at best if you survive the ordeal, you’re left battered looking at a long road to recovery. I won’t get into who’s got or had it as we all have been personally affected by it in one way or another. However, the other afternoon, while driving to my training area, I was reviewing where my life had gone in the last ten years and started thinking about an old army buddy that had come to visit in 2001. At the time what I didn’t know was that he had terminal cancer and had come to say goodbye. Simply put, he was driving home to Halifax to die. In those days, I was the “young upcoming entrepreneur” and was too busy working on my third million. Don’t get me wrong, I was really more than happy to see Bob that particular day but was too focused on my work and didn’t have the time to actually sit down and chat with him. So the next morning, he politely said farewell and headed to Nova Scotia where he flamed out two months later. “Wow” I said to Fran when she announced the news to me, “he didn’t even look sick”. “If only I would have known…”
Yeah, if only I would have known… This statement or a derivative of it is something that we’ve all said to ourselves at one point or another in our lives. However, when you face that particular situation, most of the time, it’s too late and we’re left holding an “empty bag”. 2001 was a very notorious year for me. That’s the year I was hit by the perfect storm and hit financial “rock bottom”. Whatever was happening in the world at the time, I had no control over any of it. But one thing was for sure. I had been sucked in this enormous “sink hole” and was some discouraged to tackle the then very bleak future. If only I would have known was something I had said to myself on many occasions then. I guess that’s why they call it the future. The only prediction that you can make about it is to say that it’s unpredictable. Anyway, we soldiered on, adapted to the situation and survived.
So that day, while riding my old “Suzuki Samurai” through the woods, I was satisfied as to how things had turned around. Somehow, I had managed to get to the point of my life where I finally had some inner peace and was happy with myself. Oh sure, it’s not all bells and whistles and I still have my moments but in general “Life is good”. Personally, choosing to have a very simple lifestyle was the best thing that I have ever done. It can afford me the luxury of running “sled dogs”. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than to be out there in full nature with a bunch of loyal dogs that aren’t playing the “What’s in it for me” game.
Today, that’s the point I’m trying to make. If you’re missing it, it is really simple. Although it’s important to plan for the future, it is most important to consider living for the moment as tomorrow might never come. Yeah, if only I would have known…
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