You Have Today!

Last week, I attended the 2017 Gallup® CliftonStrengths® Summit. While the entire summit was energizing, I was most inspired by Tom Rath, bestselling author, researcher, and advisor. Rath presented some powerful challenges and one in particular burst my heart open. Now I can’t stop thinking about it.

True Story Ahead

Rath revealed he’s struggled with a serious illness for over 20 years of his life. When he was just 16 years old, after experiencing some weird eyesight issues, his doctor revealed to him that he had a rare disease that would impact his wellbeing his whole life.

His doctor then told him he would experience serious health complications including widespread cancerous growths throughout his body. Because of this, his life expectancy was not so good either. He was informed he most likely would not live beyond the age of 40.

After Rath got through the shock of this news, he decided he wasn’t going to just lay around and wait to be sick and die. Rather, he seized the opportunity to plan his life’s goals to be completed by the time he was 40. Then he got busy working on those goals.

Although he had many questions related to how this illness was going to impact his life, he wondered more if there were anything he could do to impact his wellbeing so that he could live a longer, healthier life.

Three Words

Rath experienced permanent eyesight loss in one eye. He confirmed the doctor’s diagnosis about experiencing cancerous growths all over his body throughout the years.

Knowing how much he’s suffered over the last couple of decades and how much he’s contributed to others and our world, his next words were even more meaningful to me.

“You have today!”

My heart burst open. Tears filled my eyes.

Rath shared he didn’t have a life plan for after 40, but now he’s making one because he recently turned 40. And he’s currently fighting cancer. I love his attitude!

“Life is about what you put into this world, not what you get out of it.” – Tom Rath

I love inspirational true stories. I think Rath’s life story is one worth sharing. How many times do we tend to feel sorry for ourselves and not make plans because we think we can’t contribute to this world?

Too often I think we take the “woe is me” attitude.

I’ve been inspired by Rath’s story since I heard him speak.

Do you know there is something we can do to impact our own wellbeing to live longer, healthier lives?

Rath provided three specific challenges to us. He’s lived by these and is sharing what he knows to encourage others to do that same.

So in honor of Tom Rath’s encouragement to me (even though he doesn’t even know how much his story positively impacted me), I’m going to encourage you to take on Rath’s three challenges.

I’ll be sharing these in my next three blog posts. I’ll even be adding my own personal stories for extra encouragement to you. Because let’s face it, life sometimes is difficult, throws us curve balls, and tries to knock us down.

Here’s the thing, we may get struck down, but we don’t have to stay down.

We each have today to choose to live intentionally like today matters. Because it does. What you choose to do today will impact your wellbeing.