Make a Difference

We have one life to achieve all we can and make a positive impact.

I wrote my column for this issue yesterday. This isn’t it.

I was reading through it one more time this morning and I thought it was pretty good, but it didn’t at all reflect how I’m feeling at the moment.

I’m a huge hockey fan. I’ve played the game my whole life, from age 3 to today at 44. I’m not a TV guy. I like to be busy. I sit all day at work, and when I get out, I need to move. But when the Stanley Cup playoffs start, I’m glued to the set. Last night, the Washington Capitals claimed their first cup in franchise history. I’m a fan of the Capitals’ division rival, the New Jersey Devils, but after the Devils exited in the first round of the playoffs, I started pulling hard for the Capitals. I watched every game.

To be fair, I’m also an emotional person. I always shed a tear or two when the winners hoist the Stanley Cup. It’s an appreciation for the game, for the unbelievable dedication and effort it takes to get to that point, and probably a little honest recognition that I’ll never feel anything quite like that sense of triumph in my life. I’ve never been that dedicated to anything.

T.J. Oshie was one of the first players interviewed after the Capitals’ Game 5 victory. He’s a player I really like, and I shed a few more tears as he choked up talking about having his dad, who has Alzheimer’s disease, in the stands to see him achieve a goal they’ve both dreamt of for many years. It made me think of all the things my mom has missed and will never get to see and share.

And of course, there’s Alex Ovechkin — one of the greatest goal scorers to ever lace up a pair of skates, who seemed doomed to never reach the summit — skating around holding 35 pounds of silver over his head, with pure, unbridled joy on his face. You don’t have to be a hockey fan to appreciate it.

I read about a dozen recap stories this morning. And then, I turned to some different news. Anthony Bourdain had been found dead after hanging himself. I didn’t know him. Never met him. But I watched his shows and appreciated the way he explored the world and exposed his viewers to other cultures in a simple, human way. He showed how much we all share in common.

We all want to leave a legacy. For Oshie and Ovechkin, it will be engraved on the Stanley Cup for eternity. People will remember their greatness. For Bourdain, it will be those things I mentioned, but also the sadness and tragedy of taking his own life. I don’t really think of myself in terms of a legacy, but I do think about our purpose here and the impact we make.

What’s your legacy going to be? What role do you play in your family, this industry and your community? They’re questions worth considering, and those answers should inform the way you approach all of those things.

I hope you take advantage of the opportunity you’re given to make a positive impact.

Enjoy this month’s issue.



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