Milestones in Life
There are many milestones in life. They are the markers that define us. Events in time. Yet, as humans, we attach such strong emotions to them. Sometimes those emotions are pleasant and sometimes they are not.
Last week, we were at Atlantis in the Bahamas for the Beachbody Success Club trip. It was truly amazing. I cannot believe the wealth of people that have joined us over the years. Their depth, their passion, the value they add, and the love they have to give to others is mind boggling. I sit and talk with them and learn about their lives and I am deeply moved. They are a part of our tribe and that makes them important to me.
What interests me most is the questions they ask. Some people want technical information and I’m pretty good at communicating that [but, to be honest, it’s really boring]. It’s the people that want to talk about the their milestones in life that fully capture my attention.
We all have those times in our lives when crappy things happen to us. You are not alone or unique in this regard. People often ask one of two questions during these times – why me or why not me?
On November 14, 2007, my father died. That moment, which I can only hope will be the darkest one of my life, forever changed me. He was only 62, and he had lived the last 15 years of his life battling a slowly deteriorating neurological disorder. It was like a very slow progressing version of ALS. Difficult to watch, to say the least. When he died, I immediately asked “Why me? Why has this happened to me?. Why has my life been cursed this way? Am I next?”. Eventually, I looked at my life and realized that I had a choice. If, for whatever reason, something happened to me at age 62, I had a choice in how I would spend the rest of my days – in an office pushing paper around [and making money for other people] or being a part of something that matters and making a difference in the lives of so many people, most importantly the ones that live with me, my family.
In short, I started asking “WHY NOT ME???”
Last week, several people asked me what it was like to live a life I’ve designed. A life where I sit staring out over the Pacific Ocean as I write this. A life where I take my kids to school, pick them up, visit with my 95 year old grandparents [who are my neighbors], and watch yet another amazing sunset. My response – they built these condo towers with this view for people to live in and enjoy, so someone has to live in them and enjoy them. Why not me?
Think about your milestones in life. The markers that define you. Those events in time. Now think about the emotions you’ve connected to them and decide which question you are going to ask yourself in response. If your answer is “Why not me?,” then it’s time to start taking action designing the life you truly want to live.
If you need my help, please do not hesitate to ask. I’d love to help you. That’s who we are and what we do. Given that truth, I’ve got to work with someone. Why not you?
