Today, I was asked if I was living life to the fullest. By a complete stranger.
Talk about something making you stop and think!
While I admittedly think about this practically every day, it's rare for someone to actually confront you and ask straight up: Are you living life to the fullest?
Let's back up a second, Jordan. How did this happen?
Glad you asked!
I live a block away from NYU's hospital and next door to many medical facilities. It's not surprising for a van or two to be stopped in the bus lane outside my apartment, picking up or dropping off handicapped seniors at that center. What is unusual is what happened with one of those vans today.
As I was waiting for the light to change to cross the street, the young driver came out, walked up to me and asked if I was living life to the fullest. He proceeded to help the elderly man out of his van, continuing on by saying "Because if not -- this man will teach you how! He's 92 and loves life every day. He truly lives life to the fullest."
It wasn't a long conversation, and for many it may have gone in one ear and out the other. But it completely changed my impression of what I was seeing. Every day I see handicapped people with a variety of sicknesses and problems being assisted in and out of these vans. It was, admittedly, a scene I wouldn't have associated with living life to the fullest.
How naive of me! How quickly do we judge situations by a single impression. This driver's short question made me rethink it all in a matter of a few seconds. Yes, this man was elderly and needed assistance, but what was stopping this 92-year-old from living life with all he's got?
Absolutely nothing.
Source: Pinterest
So then what's stopping all of us?
Yes, there is always going to be something. There are all the excuses in the world why we can't live up to the fullest versions of ourselves. But it all comes down to you, and YOUR decisions. YOUR priorities. You're the only one in charge of your own life -- so why not make the most of it?
I wasn't allowed to cross the street until I reassured the driver as well as the man that I was, in fact, living my life to the fullest. I told them I was on a mission to do everything I can to make sure that happens. And it felt pretty amazing. Vocalizing it to complete strangers sounds crazy, but it puts it out into the universe. It says, "HEY UNIVERSE! LET'S DO THIS!"
So today, I'm asking all of you to put that out into the Universe. Set your intentions. Vocalize them. Pray about them. Write them down. Scream them from the rooftop! Do whatever you need to do to look yourself in the eye and decide to start living your life to the fullest.
And the next time I see the man and his driver, I'll be sure to relay your message, too :)