A few weeks ago I had a speaking engagement. After I was finished speaking I mentioned that I was doing this triathlon..
I think it’s important as adults to step outside of our comfort zones and explore something new and challenging.
This is new and challenging.
And I’m revisiting my philosophy on life at this point…
I’ve play sports and been athletic most of my life, but I have never demanded this much of my body. To swim a mile, then bike 24 miles and then run 6 miles…
Ummm, really?
Who am I kidding?
FYI… I really hate the run part.
I started training with Team in Training. Not only do they have all of the knowledge, advice and guidance I need to get from zero to completing the triathlon… they also give my doing a triathlon more meaning.
If I am going to torture challenge myself, I am going to do it for something bigger than myself.
Cancer.
Me and My Grandfather... he died of cancer when I was 23.
That is way bigger for sure.
It is also a word I hope to never hear directed towards me or anyone close to me ever again.
I race to fight cancer, I race to raise money for cancer, I race so someone else can live.
I finished speaking that night and a gentleman came up to me and asked me what the triathlon was for, I replied, “cancer”. He said he had lymphoma and has been three years in remission. I asked him about his journey and how his health was today. We chatted for a while about his experience. He asked me if I had cancer or if I was a survivor. “No“ I replied, “but like most people I have been touched by cancer, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends etc. but no, not me. No, not my children. No, not my siblings or my parents.”
He said, “I really admire you for doing this.”
I looked at him in awe and said, “I am the one who admires you, Sir, for your strength, and for winning your battle.”
We smiled at each other and decided that we would simply admire each other for our seperate paths and for our different accomplishments.
I went home that night, and as I got ready for bed, I stopped and took a moment to look at my own scars;
the large one that covers half my body across my chest,
the one down my side left behind by the heart-lung machine,
and a third, inches long, through the crease in my leg.
I have seen them my whole life, and for the most part I don’t see them at all anymore.
Except on days like today when I am reminded of their beauty… reminded of my treasured badges of honor.
Days like today when I am reminded that for one day in my life I was only alive because of machines… and because of the hands of another person.
I am reminded at we all have battles to fight, and once they are won, we need to contribute to helping others fight their battles, because one day, we will be fighting another battle of our own and it’s so much easier when we don’t have to fight them alone.
Please help me raise money for Cancer by clicking this link…
