“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
Thank you.
That’s the best way I can think to begin this conversation between us.
The sum total of my life has boiled down to this moment. You see today is both ordinary and extraordinary. It was 25 years ago (officially on Sept 26th) that I learned I was cancer free. That I was being given a key to a great unknown called the future. Once I chose to walk through that door I could choose to bring with me whatever I wanted.
I could choose to bring the sadness, fear and pain of the road I just traveled, or I could bring the hope, enthusiasm and wonder of what was to come. I chose the latter.
I’ve met so many beautiful people during this time, had countless first time experiences and had the privilege of becoming a husband and father. It’s very difficult to fully capture how profound a second chance at life can be. I want to share this joy with you in some small way because your presence in my life is one of the many gifts I’ve been given by my second chance at life.
So my small token of appreciation to you is a list of ten lessons I have learned over the past 25 years:
1. A positive attitude doesn’t make life any easier, but it does make the journey sweeter.
2. A child’s imagination is a greater asset than his test scores.
3. The one label that describes me best is “human being.”
4. It isn’t important to be right. It is important to be right here, right now.
5. A smile can close any distance that ever existed between two people.
6. Question everything, especially your own perception.
7. Live your life as an ongoing treasure hunt and it will never disappoint you.
8. One of the most important questions to answer for yourself is, “Who must I become to create the change I desire?”
9. Being grateful is the key to happiness.
10. Every mistake is a reason to smile because each is a seed of learning that can blossom into new wisdom.
Thanks for being you.
Brian R. King LCSW is a #1 Best Selling Author, 25-year cancer survivor, adult with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Asperger’s. He’s also the father of three sons on the autism spectrum. He is known worldwide for his books and highly engaging presentations that teach the power of connection and collaboration. His strategies empower others to overcome their differences so they can build powerful and lasting partnerships. His motto is: We’re all in this together.