The train of life is always on the tracks and moving full steam ahead regardless of anything happening in the world, to you or anyone else.
I know that may sound harsh, insensitive, or just plain rude but let me assure you it's a fact.
Life waits for no one. It keeps going no matter what, and the sooner you understand, the better equipped you will be to handle life's challenges.
Why is it so important you understand this?
Because it will help you focus on what's most important in your life and keep things in perspective as you move forward during all the ups and downs of your life.
The fact is, you are never guaranteed tomorrow, and yesterday is gone forever. All you have is this moment, so worrying about what happened yesterday or what could happen tomorrow is robbing you of your happiness today.
Yes, you can and should plan for the future because what you do today will impact your future. I'm saying that things in life rarely go as planned, so adapting during difficult times will make life a little easier.
Here's an example of understanding the importance of living in the moment because that moment is all you have.
A few weeks ago, I was at a celebration of life for my cousin, who recently passed away in her sleep at the young age of 55.
When we were children, we spent so much time playing together, swimming at our grandparent's house, during the holidays or just for fun. I have so many great memories of our childhood.
As we got older, we both started living our own lives and rarely saw one another. Yet, we both were living in the moments of our lives, just as we should have been doing.
Being in the moment to celebrate her life, relive some of those great memories and see family members I haven't seen in years helped me appreciate my life at that moment.
It was sad and brutal to see her dad, husband, and kids grieving. All I could do was be there to offer my condolences and support.
It was heartbreaking for me, but understanding that life does not stop allowed me to be present in the moment, process my grief and still understand that life keeps going.
Life will not wait for you, no matter what you have, who you are, or how famous or rich you are. When someone passes away, there is a time when everyone grieves and says their goodbyes.
Then it's back to life. You go back to your life as it was or the new way if you are the one living without someone. I know, my life changed over 21 years ago when I lost my fiancee to cancer.
Please understand, I'm not saying you're not sad or angry about your loss. I'm saying life goes on, and as painful as it is, that's how life is and how it should be.
Take Kobe Bryant's death. It was tragic and sad to lose such an icon in the sports and entertainment world, and we cannot forget that his daughter lost her life simultaneously.
For weeks, all we heard about was the crash and the loss of both of their lives, how his family was going to make it, how did this happen, and why did this happen.
But life didn't stop. It kept going for everyone still alive, including his loved ones. I want to be very clear; I'm not trying to minimize or trivialize death in any way.
The fact is, life does not wait for anyone.
Conversely, when you lose your job, a friendship, go through a divorce, a breakup, and the list goes on and on. The train of life does not stop; it keeps going; you are the one who has to navigate your life.
All you can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward with whatever life throws at you.
I remember my divorce; it was so hard for me because I felt like such a failure and that I let the whole family down, being the first one to get a divorce.
I recall speaking with my father and apologizing for letting the family down. He told me to stop right there; you don't owe anyone anything, including the family. You have to do what's best for you. It's your life.
My father reminded me of some of his failures in life and how he had to get up face the music. One, in particular, was losing the election for county auditor; he had no idea how he was going to support the family now that he had lost the election and his job.
He said he got up, got dressed, and started looking for a new job. Then, as life does, you visualize something better when you believe in yourself and go to work. Life has a funny way of rewarding you.
Listen, you cannot change the past. You can influence the future, but all you truly have is the moment, so be present and make the most of it.
Especially during the tough times, because those are times when you learn the most about life and yourself.
I learned so much more about myself during the difficult times of my life. But those are the times I had to dig deep, get up, get dressed and keep moving forward because I knew life was not going to wait for me.
That's precisely what I'm doing right now. Unfortunately, I failed again, this time in business.
I was doing a start-up company, we had what I thought to be an incredible product, it was patent-pending and could not move the needle for two years, and just closed it down.
So here I am, looking for what's next in my career.
I'm embracing and living in the moment. I have a great support system in my life, with my partner, family, and friends.
I will tell you that I get up, get dressed, and go to work every day to become better than I was.
Part of my work every day is to continue my journey of inspiring you to be the difference in your life.
Now that you understand, life waits for no one, no matter what happens.
Never forget to live in the moment, always get up, get dressed, and put one foot in front of the other.
It's not how you start; it's how you finish.
As always, thank you for your time.
Paul
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