Is Today The Day?

Subscribe to the Mindful Moment Podcast.

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I still find it hard to believe that one year ago today, I had a stroke.

For the benefit of those who don’t know the background, let me start at the beginning and give you the highlights

• I was born with a very complicated heart condition and my parents were told that I wouldn’t live to see my first birthday. Since the doctors didn’t understand why my heart was working in the first place – they opted not to touch it.
• I lived a relatively “normal” childhood with no surgeries, no medicines and no hospitalization. It was a miracle!
• At the age of 18, I met a cardiologist who told me that my life was more than half over! His exact words were: “We hope you live to be 30.“
• Six long, torturous, depression and anger filled, years later – I finally came to terms with this prognosis. I accepted my own mortality and as soon as I did I realized that it was the most liberating and empowering thing I had ever done! I coined the term “Power of Mortality™” to describe this new way of living.
• I got married at the age of 30.
• We had our first child when I was 32.
• When I was 33, I realized that my mission in life is to help others by sharing my story and my concept of the Power of Mortality™, so I began my career as a professional speaker.
• We had our second child when I was 35.
• At the age of 35 I wrote my first book, “What’s Your Expiry Date? Embrace Your Mortality – Live With Vitality“
• And then at the age of 36 I had a stroke.

By then, I had been living the Power of Mortality™ for twelve years. I had been speaking about it, writing about it and teaching others about it for three years. And at the age of 36, I was given a chance to walk my talk.

As I have previously written in a post titled This Is NOT A Test, (which I wrote a year ago from my hospital bed), I walked into my office that morning and had no idea what my computer was used for. Next, my right arm went numb and the vision in my right eye went blurry. At that point, I realized that I was having a stroke.

And then the most remarkable thing happened! Rather than panic, rather than loose my cool, rather than be gripped by fear, I decided to sit down for a second. I sat in my office chair and asked myself: “Well, I wonder if today is the day?”

My mental dialog continued: “And if I am moments from death, how do I feel about my life at this moment? Am I ready to go?”

I ran a quick mental check:

• I just finished a good breakfast with my wife and children.
• I kissed them goodbye and told them I loved them as they left the house.
• My mother, brother and friends all know that I love them.
• I don’t need forgiveness from anyone that hasn’t already forgiven me.
• I don’t need to forgive anyone that I haven’t already forgiven.
• And I owe the bank lots of money!

So the answer is ‘YES’ I’m ready to go!

But I didn’t die. I didn’t but I know that I will. One of these days today will be ‘the day’. And thanks to the Power of Mortality™, I know that I will be just as ready to go then as I was a year ago!

ENJOY NOW!