Two days ago, I didn’t know how to spell Mount Kilimanjaro. Tuesday morning, I found out that I had lost a very dear friend to a falling boulder on
that mountain, while he was making another of his dreams come true, climbing it
with his wife.
I was beyond shocked at first, not believing that it could
be true. As it sank in more and more, the tears ran, but it wasn’t at the life
he had yet to live. See, Scott Dinsmore was someone very rare and special. At 33, he had
quit corporate America, built and stepped away a successful investment company,
and THEN inspired millions and built a worldwide community of people who
pursued what they were passionate about and absolutely loved the work they did.
He was madly in love with his wife of five years, always had a smile, was an
avid lover of dinner parties, and dove into any athletic challenge, even if it
ended in ice bags and soreness. It was easy to come to the realization that
Scott lived more and left a larger impact in his 33 years, than most do in a
lifetime. I feel so blessed to have been directly impacted by such a remarkable
person.
I also have to say that it really scared me. Scott lived his
life inspiring and helping people do work they were truly passionate about. We
had talked about my music and he was so excited for me (and for me to run into
Taylor Swift again so I could set up a meeting with Scott, haha) and I
committed to writing a sort of anthem song for Live Your Legend, his company. I
started writing the song a few times, but it never seemed epic enough so I
never finished it and now, I won’t be able to share it with him. Unfortunately,
my procrastination on his song is a perfect example of how many of us live our
lives.
Life is so incredibly fragile! We never know when our number
will be called. It scares me to my very core to think of all I wouldn’t have
achieved if my time came tomorrow. It’s a kick in the pants to get moving!
Strangely, Scott wrote this in a blog post February, 4, 2015 titled, “How Do
You Manufacture Your Own Heart Attack?” He talks about how near death
experiences or life-threatening illnesses kick people into gear to accomplish
what they want to leave behind. Many, including myself, live as if we will
never die and there will always be more time tomorrow to accomplish our goals
and dreams. But when you face the fact that life could end at any moment, there
are really very few things I WANT to do.
Scott stated perfectly in that blog post February 4, in referring
to him and his wife in old age, “we will NOT be telling ourselves…’Damn! I wish
we wouldn’t have taken that trip around the world.’, ‘I wish we would have
hosted fewer dinner parties with fascinating, inspiring people.’, ‘I wish we
would have cooked less healthy food and eaten fewer meals together.’, and ‘I
wish we wouldn’t have pursued our dreams.’” I couldn’t have said it any better!
I may regret not having the courage to reach for what I want or I may regret
watching TV, but I will never regret pursuing my dreams, traveling, and
spending time with those I love.
In life and death, Scott inspires me. He will continue for
years to come and my whole life through! I am so excited to honor him by living
MY legend, because that’s what his life was about – helping people find and do
work they were passionate about. I won’t stop pushing forward towards my
dreams, while making sure to spend time with those I love and just enjoy the
hell out of life!
