When my dear friend Tom died, it changed my life
July 22, 2020
Three years ago today, when my dear friend Tom died, it changed my life.
Obviously, I was heartbroken. It took only 86 days from diagnosis of Stage 4 Lung Cancer to when he left this mortal coil. My husband and I miss him dearly.
However, it was the change from within that changed my life.
Brendon Burchard says that there are only two things that change your life.
1. Something new comes into your life. A new friend, new opportunity, new deal, new job, you go to a new city, get a new certification, or do new things for your health.
2. Or a change comes from within. Such as taking back command of your life be it taking back command of your finances, taking back control of your daily experience, taking back control of your life from your phone etc.
For me, it was taking control of my own destiny and wanting to do something extraordinary with my life.
When you work for others you don’t have control of your own destiny. You can’t control when you are going to get any work or losing your job. I decided that I wanted to work for myself, so that I controlled my destiny not someone else.
In my life, I have had my fair share of jobs and work that stifled me. That made me feel incredibly sad, small, unhappy, caged and lost. I hated feeling like that. I knew that there must be something more.
I took action to change that. To leave a secure, permanent full time job that I was miserable in, to pursue my dream of being a photographer. It has been hard. The last few years especially, but just because it isn’t easy doesn’t mean that it isn’t worthwhile.
Too many people just coast through their life settling for average or below average. Why should you settle for average? Why should you work in a job that you absolutely despise? You deserve to live your best life. We all do.
We can always change our life. We have the power to take action. We just need to have the courage and support to do it. I am using all the courage that I have to continue to change my life.
Tom was one in a million. He lived life on his own terms. He knew what he wanted to do and did it. Tom was a writer. He took action. He savoured the moment. He just ran out of time and didn’t get a chance to fulfill all his goals.
Life is super short. Find what you love doing and do it now. Not, “one day”. And remember, if nothing changes, nothing changes.
Until next time,