As I’m halfway through the year, this morning in the shower I was reflecting on the year to date. I almost got caught up in my own story of how the start to this year was actually not great so far – had a few simultaneous big expenses to sort out the flat, bust my knee badly and still recovering, my girlfriend left me unexpectedly, I spoke at an event where no-one turned up (yes, no-one), and then two days ago had some (presumably) Wireless Festival drunks smash my front window (yet more expense), to name but a few things.
Then I metaphorically slapped myself round the face as I was writing in my 5 Minute Journal this morning and I put today’s date in. 7/7/15 and remembered back to this day 10 years ago when a tragedy hit London and affected so many people.
I was working close to Liverpool Street (where one of the bombs went off) that day at a job that wasn’t my calling and I didn’t really like. I was in a relationship I thought was amazing but would later break my heart and teach me some valuable lessons. I thought I was healthy, but in actual fact was merely fit, and living on borrowed time. I was waiting and wondering when that flash of insight would hit me so I could finally begin my life.
10 years on and I realise I’ve been given at least an extra 10 years that the 52 civilians who died that day in 2005 didn’t get. I feel grateful every day for this gift and don’t plan on wasting it. When I look back at some of what I’ve managed to accomplish in the last 10 years, I do think that life is pretty awesome (climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, been to Everest Base Camp, published a book, created a sustainable model for living with health and energy, published several online courses, written for magazines, blogs and media outlets like The Huffington Post, run a life changing retreat for people in Turkey, trained as a yoga instructor, coached others to achieve their dreams, maintained regular YouTube videos for over 1.5 years, designed and built an amazing flat, done mammoth 4 day cycles each year, met amazing people, had amazing and growth creating relationships, learnt new life skills, read hundreds of books, written tons of articles, travelled to South America, North America, Africa, Asia, spent time on Vipassana meditation, given tons of speeches to community groups, universities, corporates and entrepreneurs…..)
The list goes on.
I don’t say this to impress you reading this. I say this because sometimes we can get caught up in our own stories of where we are, where we think we should be, what others are doing, how far they’ve gone, that we forget how far we’ve come and how awesome we are.
If you’re reading this, then remember, there are 52 people who were once here that will never have the opportunity to read anything ever again. Be grateful that you’re still here, still breathing and still able to make an impact on your life and the lives of others.
When challenges hit you, they are there for a reason. But YOU DECIDE the reason. So decide what the lesson you’ve got to learn is, apply it and move on.
All my condolences to everyone affected by the 7/7 bombings.
Hari
