Have you ever noticed that it is usually in times of crisis when we are prompted to think about our lives and are snapped fully into 'the now'?
It could be an accident or natural disaster of some kind, a near–death experience, or a flight that you thought for sure was going to crash. It could be when you lose somebody close to you, or your child's safety is threatened. It could be a diagnosis. All of these situations cause one to reflect on the things most important to us, and the things left undone and unsaid.
There is a renewed urgency to tell the people in our lives that we love them, and to cherish the beauty in the simplest of moments. At the end of the day, it's moments that we rememberÂ…the ordinary miracles.
What I find interesting is that so many of our heroes in society are people who truly discovered their call to greatness only after a traumatic event of some kind (Christopher Reeve, Rick Hansen, and Lance Armstrong come to mind, for starters). We admire those who rise from the ashes of disaster, who turn a challenging situation into something meaningful and purpose–driven. They somehow seem more alive than the rest of us, like they've learned the secret to living an inspired life.
"Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records." –William A. Ward
When was the last time you felt joy and gratitude for just being alive? When was the last time you were filled with ideas and plans for all you want to be in the world? Do you have a "101 things to do before I die" dream list?
I believe that life gives us "wake–up calls" because most of us tend to live life on "auto–pilot". We do what we have to do to make a living, we have a few laughs, and our focus is usually on what's going wrong in our lives. Then one day, something happens – and we are never the same again.
What I know for sure is that life can change in an instant.
I vividly remember the day I got my Type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 17. It was stunningÂ…I felt blind–sided with shock and disbelief that I would be sentenced to a lifetime of daily insulin injections to stay alive. I put on a brave face and denied to everyone that anything was wrong, yet there was an inner ache and resentment toward this illness that I was sure would rob me of my future. At the time, I didn't see how diabetes could be a gift in my life – but in hindsight, I know that getting the diagnosis was a defining moment, and part of a "bigger picture plan" in store for me.
Diabetes gives me multiple daily reminders of my own mortality, as every time I take an insulin injection – I am acutely aware that that is what keeps me alive. I take nothing for granted. This illness has given me a perspective I wouldn't otherwise have.
Further, as a speaker and leader of a patient empowerment movement, everything I do is fuelled with an inspired sense of purpose and service to my community of peers with diabetes. There are few things in life that make me happier or more proud than to stand in front of an audience and make a difference, as it sets in motion ripples of possibility from one person to another and that is a legacy way beyond what I could ever produce on my own.
"Everyone has the power for greatness – not for fame, but greatness, because greatness is determined by service." –Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I believe there are at least two great lessons in adversity:
- Begrateful for the here and now, with things just the way they are.
- Your life means more when you stand for something greater than yourself.
Why should any of us wait until AFTER a traumatic event to light the flame burning inside of ourselves? Greatness is yours for the taking NOW!
Whatever you choose to do, however you choose to contribute, it doesn't have to be big – but do SOMETHING. Use your life for something that inspires you. At the end of the day, your legacy as a human being is made up of all the moments of every day of every year you've been alive on the planet, so make your moments count. None of us is promised a tomorrow. Count your blessings and make your life a masterpiece!
