You Can Do More
Recently, I've been reflecting on one of the kindest things anyone ever did for me and how it changed my life.
Ten years ago, I ran my first marathon. To run 26.2 miles had seemed as impossible to me as winning the Gold Medal in the Olympics for running the 100-meter dash. Inconceivable.
For months, I trained with the encouragement of a friend. Slowly, I added miles and began to believe finishing would be possible.
On the day of the race, I remember starting confidently, but about 20 miles in, my confidence was as exhausted as my legs. As I approached the 25-mile mark, I was giving up, choosing to walk the rest of the way.
Then I found a crowd of family and friends cheering me on, organized by Gail, my wife. A complete surprise; it was as meaningful a thing as she'd ever done for me. I was energized and encouraged and couldn't, in front of the group, quit running.
In the group was my uncle Danny Waters. He started running to pace me during that last mile. Moments before, I had decided to walk to the finish line. Instead, with Danny's inspiration, it was one of the fastest miles of my race.
It was a life-changing mile. Not only had Danny helped me run a faster mile, but he and everyone who showed up for me that day also showed me that I was capable of much more than I'd believed.
That was an exceptional and unearned gift I can never adequately acknowledge or repay.
Now, my job is to be your Danny. My role is to help you find, strengthen and use your superpowers. You have them. You can use them. You can change the world!
Please join the conversation! What is the kindest thing anyone ever did for you?
She married me. That's the kindest thing anyone ever did for me. I was 22, hanging around with other young guys at the apartment she shared with several other young teachers. One evening, we fell into a conversation. She eased us into deep waters. We found ourselves on "What's the meaning of life?" as dawn was breaking outside. We stumbled off to our jobs, resumed the conversation the next night...and the next...and the next. On the eighth night, I said, "You know we're going to get married, don't you?" She replied, "Of course." It'll be sixty-three years come February.