Your shoes

June 3, 2015

In my latest travels, I came upon a book in the airport by the late Stuart Scott, the famous ESPN anchor who finally succumbed after a long battle with cancer. And while I always loved Scott’s “booyah” or “cooler than the other side of the pillow” references, I just wasn’t in the mood for a trip down emotional lane. I, however, can only assume that his message was similar to the late great Jim Valvano who implored us all to “never give up”.

Stories can uplift, they can entertain, and they can enlighten us. However, stories like Scott’s or Valvano’s endure because they tap into our biggest fears. Their ability to face the fear of death and use it as motivation to inspire others is remarkable. Most of us marvel at their courage and chastise ourselves for worrying about trivial things.

All too often, it takes a painful tale to remind us of what is important and where our energy should be spent. While people battle life-threatening issues, many of us worry about the next paycheck or what the boss might think of us. We get immersed in corporate politics and toil in the mundane while others dream of impacting the world through hard work and sacrifice.

The lesson is that each and everyday we should push ourselves to be better than the day before. We should jump into the ring and influence the people we touch because life is too short to mess around. Life is not about what is on TV tonight or your tee time this weekend. It is about creating something greater than you could ever have imagined.

What do you think people who are suffering would give to be in your shoes? If they had a chance to have your life, what would they do with it? Would they spend their time worrying about the trivial and engaging in activities that offer fleeting gratification? My guess is that they would endeavor to do more than they ever thought they could.

You should do the walking.