Live Like You Were Dying

By: Paul Terranova

Y’all know that Tim McGraw song right? Brings tears to my eyes. Sometimes though it makes me smile.

Tears flowed this Monday, when I learned that a good friend and business-school classmate here in Austin was suddenly diagnosed with spine and brain cancer, aggressive enough to undergo immediate chemotherapy and radiation even though the primary location had not been identified. Sobering.

Yet, it’s the dark depressing moments like this one that are always reminding me that our time on this Earth is finite, and Lord willing, it’s up to us to squeeze the most positive out of that time.

So, let this be another reminder. Sign up for that race. Book that trip. See that friend. Call that person. Wake up for that workout (it might be your last). Hit that interval. Apologize.  Forgive. DNFed?, get back there and finish what you started.

I travel to Vermont for my second 100 mile trail run in 4 weeks. I will take these reminders with me to maximize the Grand Kona Slam experience while simultaneously minimizing the amount of time I spend on course, for there is still a LOT of living to be done…

My grandfather, we called him “Poppy,” had a paperweight on his desk that read:

“Some men die at 30. But aren’t buried until they’re 70.”

To that I add, “Don’t be one of them.”