Recently I had a day of hard self-awareness and perspective. Earlier that day I was feeling a bit out of sorts. I mentioned to her that I received a nice text from the young man who bought my Ducati, how I thought I was getting older, and thus my days of riding 150mph motorcycles were now over.
I’d been watching a nature docu-series about Asia. That afternoon the episode I watched was titled “Under the waves”. As we were watching she turned to me and said,
“All of these beautiful scenes underwater? You’ve seen that in real life.”
I guess I may have forgotten to view myself through a lens of gratitude when I reminded her, because of some lung issues, those days had passed for me and I could no longer dive. Her response was fairly blunt,
“Dave, most people only dream of experiencing that; you’ve actually lived that dream and you have seen it.
Most people want to travel; you have circled the globe multiple times. You have been there.
People live in debt, are broke, and struggle to make ends meet. You built two successful businesses and became wealthy. You accomplished it.
Showing what true and good character is? You exemplify it.
Sir, you are a very intimidating man. Why would anyone want to stand next to you and face the comparison? You live a life of passion, write best-selling books, get educated, and hang out with rock stars. You know God, have friends who love you, fly balloons, ride aircraft carriers, climb mountains, sail nearly around the world, play polo, ride motorcycles through the rain forest, and you love with an overwhelming intensity. How can anyone measure up? You’ve done it all.
Most women wish they could know in their soul that they’ve been loved, encouraged, and supported, by a man. A woman wants to know she is appreciated, respected, and shown real love. Dave, when it comes to you there is no doubt, you’ve loved me more than any woman could ever hope for. You are what love is.”
Sometimes in life the good that you’re told is also the bad that you’ll have to live with later.
