Musings at Altitude

I’m a voracious reader, and I truly enjoy non-fiction, and most enjoy those books of real people with real struggles and real heroes.  I was really touched by the book “Chasing Daylight” by Gene O’Kelly, the past CEO of KPMG who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given 6 months to live.  In those six months he shared with us his emotions, feelings, and actions as he reviewed his life and in some cases brought closure to things in his past.  Gene impacted thousands of people in his life, and yet in the end, he was confronted with his mortality. 

On my last trip, I finished a new book out called “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch.  Randy too has written his book after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  Randy is still with us, still impacting lives, and still setting such an incredible example of love and purpose.  If you get the chance, go to this site and view his short charge to the graduates at Carnegie Mellon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYv5x6gZTA

One thing Randy says really hits home – passion is grounded in people and not in things.

Over the last few days, I had the chance to go visit some of our team members on a job site in Wyoming.  I was truly touched to be of service to them as they provided service to our client.  More importantly though, I was moved by their stories, by their humility, and by their clear examples of what is so important to them in their lives.  Randy is right – passion is grounded in people, not in things.

After reading these two books, I often think of the impact that I am having on others and the thoughts that others will have of me when I leave this earth.  I typically spend time at altitude thinking back on conversations, on chance meetings, on formal gatherings and try and remember who I talked with, what we talked about, and what if anything meaningful came of it.  I also spend time thinking about the blessings that have come my way and whether or not I’m giving back something meaningful to others because others have given so meaningfully to me.  I have often thought back on the challenges I’ve faced in life, and I remember with a smile those who helped me or us overcome, and I wonder at times if I’ve been responsive enough to others who faced their own challenges or demons and in my responsiveness provided that hope or that light to overcome.

I strongly believe that our purpose here on this earth is to serve, and I am (but I shouldn’t be) surprised at how often I let things get in the way of that service and make excuses to ease my mind when I look away rather than serve.  My heart tells me to make very single interaction with others something of meaning and thus something that positively impacts our lives.  My mind then tells me that I need to focus on other things and that someone else may help that person in despair – which you and I all know rarely happens and thus that moment to make an impact is gone.

I’m going to spend some time now on my back deck taking in the magnificence of a Rocky Mountain evening and pondering how I can focus more on others and focus less on myself.  I’m also going to think about all those who have so positively impacted me and say a prayer of thanks for each one of them.  I hope that when my time on this earth is done, that others will think as fondly about the things I did for them as I remember so fondly those who so greatly impacted me.