Originally posted on Facebook HERE
We all change the world just by our presence. We have a tendency to look back on history and see a handful of people who changed everything just by their presence, but it’s not just them – everyone leaves their mark. As a musician I look back and think Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen – after they came out, rock guitar playing – heck, all guitar playing, changed forever. We can look back and se people throughout history who changed everything in their industries. Edison, Ford, Jobs & Gates, etc… while trailblazers like that leave a legacy that affects more people than most – all of us will leave an indelible mark on the world. In my industry, I have to deal with the death of someone close to me, or very close to someone I know, on at least a monthly basis. It’s not uncommon to have four or five people I know who pass on, or have a close relative die, every month. And when you talk to the people who survive them, you get a feel for what that person was like. How many other people felt their love, their drive, their determination, their presence in their lives. We can also probably all think of people historically who had that knack of being able to bring out the best in others. Sports are a great place to see that – being here in Wisconsin, Vince Lombardi is probably the first person I think of in that regard. They redefine for us what we thought was our “best effort”, and make us realize we can do better than we ever gave ourselves credit for. We are capable of whatever we believe we are capable of. So, where do we set our goals? Altogether too often we set the bar low and coast. And I’m not talking about work goals, I’m talking about our personal goals for how we will live our lives and affect the lives of the other people on this planet. Is there someone who has made a significant impact on your life – a teacher, a relative, a friend – maybe someone from long ago even – and you never really let them know how much they meant to you? Did you wrong someone in the past, and looking back now beat yourself up every time you think of it, always meaning to make it right but never getting to it? Well, get to it. Make your mark with honesty and integrity. Putting things off means dying with unexpressed love and forgiveness within you. And whenever possible – if you’re in a position to help, to lift someone up, to make an impact – do it. And remember those who were there for you. We determine the mark we leave on the planet, and to those around us. Don’t leave without fully expressing your gratitude whenever possible, helping whenever you can, and making amends as you deem necessary. And when it’s your time to leave, people will hold your words, your deeds, your goodwill in the hearts forever more. Strive to be the best person you can be, because no matter what – we will all leave our mark. Don’t die with unexpressed love and forgiveness within you.
