We respectfully read the inscriptions in the granite surrounding the WWII Memorial.
We were both moved by the words about our flag forever standing for freedom and
fortitude. We headed toward the Korean War Memorial and were silent as we studied
the faces of the statues representing men who fought for us there. We imagined and
discussed the families those men and women had left here at home. As we read the
words of the Gettysburg address in the Lincoln Memorial, my husband commented on
how such an enormous temple was erected to a man who failed at almost everything
he ever attempted, except one thing. I was excited and inspired and said, "He
found what he was born to do. He found what he loved and he thrived at it."
This moved me because this is what I believe about all of us. We are created to
do something special, something we have a gift for before we're ever born. Abraham
Lincoln found his something special and changed the world forever with it. I don't
think you and I are any different, I just think most of us stop short of doing what
we love and settle for doing what we're ok with.
My excitement turned to tears as I watched the man I adore move his quivering finger
slowly across the name of his dear, light-hearted friend who, at 20 years of age,
gave his life for his country in Vietnam. Looking at Terry's name engraved in that
wall made his death very, very real for John all over again, and my heart ached
for my husband. I found myself thinking about his mother and the agony she must
have suffered when she learned of her baby's death. I thought of the wife he would
never know, the children he would never have, the life he would never live.
My hope is two-fold for sharing this story with you today. First, we need to wrap
our minds around the fact that LIFE IS SHORT! Whether your years here number 15
or 115, the time is short in the grand scheme of things. Second (and very much backed
up by the first) we need to be doing what we love so we're happy and making the
best difference we can possibly make while we're here. Doing what we love not only
increases the happiness and satisfaction factors in our lives, it also increases
the likelihood of our success in virtually all areas of our lives, our weight and
fitness, our business success, our relationships, you name it...
Perhaps you've gathered from my story that this past weekend I went to Washington
DC with my husband. I also spent some time each evening with folks I admire. One
was in business, the other in ministry. We walked and walked and walked (if you've
ever traveled with me, you know this is my favorite way to explore!). Sometime Saturday
night it occurred to me how these few days were truly a culmination of who I am...
all in one weekend!!
"What does that have to do with me, Donna?" you may justifiably be asking.
My answer is simple. I can show you how to tap into the indescribably wonderful
world of doing what you love to do and make a fantastic living doing it. If you're
not exactly sure what that is, I can even help with that.
I have been quite blessed in my life. My husband and I have overcome four cancers;
two with zero percent cure rates. I've known million-dollar success in business.
I've mastered the art of connecting with very well known people and more importantly,
I've learned how to teach others to do the same. I've taught small business leaders
how to increase their business without investing any money, and I know how to recreate
businesses so they can be new again. I've been told I have the body of a 19-year-old
(I'm going to be 46) and I've kept weight off for years. I know the peace and joy
that can be found in life to replace anxiety and depression and lack of confidence.
I've become quite proficient at helping people overcome the obstacles that hold
them back, and even more so at helping them see how truly easy it is to move toward
what they want.