Reflections of a life well lived

By: Transformed Triathlete

Reflections of a life well lived.....

by Lois Tiedemann, in honor and memory of Mike Brown and two other lives well lived
Of all the words of tongue and pen, the worst are these,

"What might have been...'"
This was a quote a dear friend shared with me this week. Not just any friend. A young 17-year-old man, who I have known and mentored for the past few years. He has taught me more than I feel I have taught him at times. His name is Bobby and he is an amazing young man who lives life to the fullest. Bobby shared the abovementioned quote with me after I was in awe of his opportunity with his band and their first contract to record their first official album with a record label.

For you see, Bobby's dad died of cancer when Bobby was just 16-years-old and he has never wanted to take any one day, any one person, any one opportunity for granted, ever since.

Bobby got me thinking and caused me to pause for a moment. He reminded me of another young man who also lived life to the fullest and who pursued his dreams with the same relentless energy and excitement.
It was nearly ten years ago to the day (April 5th, 1998 to be exact) when I lost one of my own best friends to cancer. Mike, or Mikey as we lovingly called him, had been diagnosed on March 23rd, would celebrate his 20th birthday in the hospital one week later, and fall asleep one last time on Sunday, April 5th. Two weeks from diagnosis to final completion of a life is a short time to experience a transformation of that great measure - delivering an equally short awakening to those who loved him most. Mike's death was a wake up call for all of us. Especially myself, having not really experienced death before in my entire life with someone that close. That sudden stop in life helped put things in perspective. Have you ever been there before in your own life?
If you are like me, every day is crammed full of tasks, errands, deadlines, demands and activities. I run headlong through each twenty-four hours from the minute my feet hit the floor until I crawl into bed each night. Fortunately, through Mike's death, God taught me to slow down and find silence and solitude in between the cracks of my day-to-day schedule and create a greater conscious awareness of those in need around me.
Yet, most days, if I am not careful, my time management skills become my idol, my focus. When I look back at the end of some days, I see I had opportunities, just as Bobby shared and Mike taught, where I might have been an angel of hope or light to the frustrated cashier at the grocery store instead of brushing her aside because I was in a hurry to do something I deemed more important. I might have been a blessing to the friend who called, needing an encouraging word instead of preaching an unsolicited sermon in the name of compassion. I might have taken a few more minutes to listen when the elderly man struck up a conversation with me at the gas pump instead of walking away, leaving him just as lonely as he was when we met. Helping those people is the answer to "what might have been...." - living life to the fullest and supporting those around us that want our help.
Last week I watched the last lecture of a dying man with cancer who was on an episode of Oprah and I wanted to leave you with that today, as you reflect on your own day-to-day realizations and awareness of how you can make a difference and live like my friend Bobby or my friend Mike - not taking anything for granted and living your own life to the fullest as much as possible. We are human, so there is room for grace in there somewhere. Yet I know I am always appreciate of this gentle reminder and want to say less and less, “What might have been…..”
If you can spare 11 minutes, and find time for even more of a pause in your day, CLICK HERE for the inspiring lecture from Oprah's show and may you have an inspired week! I guarantee, it will be worth your time in seeing yet one more person and reflecting on a life well lived.

Thank you for allowing me to share this powerful message.
If you would like to donate to Lois' cause that she is passionately connected to in helping eradicate cancer and finding a cure for leukemia please CLICK HERE to hear more about Mikey's story and how you can donate to her cause or simply go to www.InMikeysMemory.com to honor the 10th anniversary of Mike's memory and those still battling blood cancers. Your tax-deductible donation will go toward the continued research for cures for cancer.

Success Article Source: http://www.bodymindsuccess.com/articles

Lois Tiedemann is an inspired speaker/author and Transformational Success Coach who launched her own personal growth and development company. Her mission is to inspire transformation and balance in the lives of people. After her own success-filled sales career and as an Ironman Triathlete, Lois is passionate about helping you find your own balance and transformational success through self, health and wealth. You can learn more about Lois' programs at www.TransformedTriathlete.com.

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