Reflections

I'm in Denver for a friend's memorial service. He passed very suddenly and unexpectedly. I haven't really processed his loss yet, but after a service that was both touching and informative (I learned things about him I never knew before) I was left with a few thoughts going forward.

Life is fleeting. Pursue your passions.

He was a man of many interests; hockey, snowbording, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, shooting, and so much more. But his most overwhelming passion was his family. He loved them all fiercly, and would do anything for them. That love overrode all his other passions.

Let your family and frineds know how much they mean to you.

He wasn't in the least bit shy about telling his wife and kids that he loved them. While that may have embarassed them at the time, they all universally said at the service how much that meant to them now.

Leave things better than you found them.

I mentioned how informative the service was. A couple of the things I learned about him was that (1) he was a devoted volunteer coach and board member for a youth hockey team for kids that were developmentally challenged; and (2) he tutored and mentored inner city youths. He did all this - and much more - for the last 20 years without letting anyone outside of his close inner circle know about it. The whole point is to do what I learned as a Boy Scout: leave things better than you found them. If more of us would do this (the over-hyped "make a difference") the world would be a much better place.

So go out and do something that excites you. Hug your spouse and kids. Volunteer for a worthy cause. Do all these things in the name of a man who you've never met, but who left the world a better place for his having passed through it.