Yesterday my wife received an email from her sister imploring us to leave Japan. This after her mother asked us to evacuate a few days earlier.
As they are closer to the situation they cannot help but worry.
The situation is very real to them but over here in Osaka as I said in my previous post it’s business as usual.
Sure, people are taking some extra precautions and stocking up on various supplies.
But what interests me is that my wife’s sister and mother told us to evacuate but never mentioned evacuating themselves.
When you face death a million things run through your mind but I do believe that Brendon Burchard summed it up nicely with three questions that I believe we should all ask ourselves.
- Did I live?
- Did I love?
- Did I matter?
I clearly remember what went through my mind when the tsunami hit 6 years ago. It’s like it was yesterday.
Under the water I clearly remember thinking (and I realize it might sound unbelievable but it is absolutely true), “Please God, please let me get my wife out. I’m willing to die if I have to…”
And yet, here I stand today. My own personal miracle.
But don’t get me wrong. At no moment did I want to die.
I wanted to have a family.
And now I look down of my son sleeping so peacefully each night.
I wanted to help others.
And I’m sharing my ideas with you here.
I wanted to enjoy life.
And I do that each and every day.
I laugh, I watch TV and I have dinner with good friends.
That’s what living is all about; family, friends, contribution.
Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the simple things in life.
Each of us is given a great gift; the gift of life.
But what we do with it is up to us.
Build an empire, join a rock & roll band, become president or cook dinner for your children.
Success is building the life that you want.
Yes, we were all meant to live so that we can each give back something, in our own way, to the world.
How are you using your gift?
Adrian Shepherd