Many motivational speakers tell you to think about your WHY?
- Why do you do what you do for a living?
- Why do you do what you do for fun?
- Why do you . . . ?
I am a firm believer in leaving things better than you found it. I believe we need to care for others more than we care for ourselves. I believe that we need to give back to our community.
One thing that I am very passionate about is a local non-profit in Boise, Idaho - www.wishgranters.org. They grant wishes to local terminal adults in order to create lasting positive memories for their families and caregivers.
Years ago, I was donating my time and money to this organization since I believed in their cause. They invited me to be on their Board of Directors five years ago. I attended a meeting to verify it would be a good fit. It was. However, before I accepted their nomination, I had a confession to make . . . I may miss a number of meetings and may not be able to give them much notice.
What was my WHY? Because my wife was terminal herself. She had two simultaneous Stage IV Uterine Cancers! This was after she was cured from having Stage IV Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma!
I told them that in the not too distant future this "problem" would resolve itself, so if they wanted me to wait to join their Board of Directors, I would totally understand. If they still wanted to accept me; I would be honored and would recuse my family from a Wish so that there would be no conflicts of interest. Fortunately, I joined their Board that day and have served ever since.
We were very fortunate that my real estate career allowed me the financial resources, time, and flexibility to take my wife and family on our own bucket list trips. We traveled lots, drank good wine and spent lots of time with family since we knew her days were numbered. We adopted Toby Keith's song - "Live Like You Are Dying", as our theme song. One of our many bucket list items we were able to check off included this sunrise horseback ride on the beach.
I recognize and appreciate that Memorial Day is a day to remember and reflect on those that served and died for our freedom. I lived in Vietnam as a child and started kindergarten there during the Vietnam War. I lived in Korea when they were still rebuilding after their war. I graduated from high school in Tehran, Iran when they were having a civil war. I have seen first hand the ravages of war and have seen more than my share of deaths due to it. I think that is why I appreciate LIFE.
Even though we are all born terminal, I choose to celebrate LIFE. I choose help others appreciate what they have left of theirs by helping grant their terminal wishes. That is "My Why" that my company, progressive-realty.info donates $250 per real estate closing to Wish Granters, Inc.
A very wise man, Dr. Vincent Kituku, taught me over 30 years ago that we can't control much in our life. We can't control the day we are born and we typically don't control the day we die. We can can however, control what is in between . . . "The Dash". Mine is June 07, 1961 -
This is MY WHY - what is yours?
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