Life On Your Terms…

Is a life worth living. How many times have you caught yourself wishing you were doing something different. Not because you are sick of doing the same thing day in and day out. But because you don’t feel like your leading your life’s purpose. For all of us “Life On Our Terms” can mean something different. For some it is about leading a non-profit that makes positive change in the world for those who need it most. For others, it is inventing a new technology that saves people’s lives. For me, it’s about helping people create a “Self-Image” worth fighting for. So they can stop surviving and start thriving. No matter what your purpose is on earth. The most important thing is embracing it and moving in that direction. When I think about someone who has embraced “Life On Your Terms.” I think about Jenna Colvin. Who is a close family member of mine and someone who doesn’t just believe in “Life On Your Terms” she actually lives it. This week I have the honor of attending the RED TIE GALLA put on by Jenna and her team at FireFighters For Healing. If you have never heard of this non-profit and what they are doing to help families and their children who have been impacted as burn victims. Well, Now You Know!! Check Out What They Are Doing: http://firefightersforhealing.org/news Jenna is one of the leaders of this organization and responsible for putting on the RED TIE GALLA event. Tirelessly, Jenna
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No Regrets

As I held my 96 year old Grandmothers hand Each and every day thoughts creep into our mind, like water dripping on our forehead, about why we didn’t do something. Why we found an excuse to pass up on our opportunity to take action. Yesterday, I made sure there were no regrets when it came to seeing my 96 year old Grandmother. It was a moment in my life for which I have never experience. I can say, it’s not something I’m good at… Sitting at the edge of Grandma’s bed for hours. Holding her hand starring into her squinted, wrinkled, eyes while observing her fight to take her next breath. As she held my hand all her strength went into clinching mine. I believe it was her way of hugging me. Holding onto me as if to say, “I will always be here with you.” As I sat by her side we talked about my wonderful wife, my two girls and all the things we are doing. As a mother of 8 children, Grandma knows what it’s like raising a family… She has done it all her life. With a faint smile and a whisper she said, “Show me pictures, of the girls.” I pulled my phone out and showed her the ones who mean everything to me. My three girls. After 20 minutes of me talking and Grandma fighting to open her eyes and see each picture. She clinched my hand tight saying, “My oldest grandson… Tell the
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Just do it!

Nothing holds her back from doing big things “Dad, Dad!!  Are you excited for hockey today?” Shanley (Shay) said at 8am on a Saturday morning as she jumped in our bed to give me a HUGE Hug. “YES!, honey I’m SUPER EXCITED to skate with you today.” I responded. “Me Too!!” Shanley said with a smile from ear to ear. This time of year, Saturday & Sunday mornings, Shay and I get to enjoy an hour on the ice together doing one of the sports we both love… Hockey! There is nothing like her smile when she wakes up and knows its hockey day.  Immediately, Shay jumps out of bed, rushes downstairs and starts packing her hockey bag. She can’t stop talking about shooting pucks, scoring a goal and practicing her stops… “Dad, don’t forget to tape my stick.” she yells up the stairs. “Dad, do you think we will get to play a game today… I’m going to score a GOAL!” she said to me as I knelt down next to her and helped pack her hockey bag. “Sugar Shay, are you sure you don’t want to get dressed at the house… instead of at the rink.” I asked. “No Dad, I am 6 now and I know how to get dressed like my sister Ireland and the big girls.” she responded. So, we packed up her hockey bag, her diabetes bag and grabbed something quick to eat. Then headed off for the rink. As we drove to the
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A Great Man Teaching Life Lessons

I find it fascinating how Elon crafts his story with this writer. As an icon in the world of innovation and fortune. He speaks to the simple people of this world through pain and tragedy. He touches on true human emotion by telling his personal stories and sharing his personal feelings… If all is true, he is a polarized man. One of great fortune when it comes to changing the world, money and fame. While on the other hand one of great sorrow and pain when it comes to family and self. Like a true superhero, he knows no middle ground. like so many of us he works in the polars. The north pole being his extreme successes and the south pole being his inability to nurture emotional intelligence… never allowing him to connect. The more I read and study amazing people doing amazing things the more I see polarization. The more I see clear strength and weakness. The question I keep asking… Does it take your father hating you, beating you (mentally or physically), does it take great loss (loss of parents, loss of wife, loss of children), great pain (the feeling of being alone, lack of self worth, not fitting in) to break the mold. Pushing our human spirit & psyche to a level so great it is forced to decide between good and evil. Like Elon and his father? Once the choice is made each walks their path. While Elon is saving the world… is he destroying
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a “Heart” as big as the moon

From the very first day I met her until today Diana has shown me a “Heart” as big as the moon. I’ll never forget that day I called her to say she is hired onto Metropolitan Home Team as our Office Manager. I uttered the words, “I think you are going to be perfect for this job. I would love to have you on our team.” from that very moment I felt what it was like to be in Diana’s presence. The line went silent, I heard a deep breath on the other side… “Tim Murphy I am so thankful to you for giving me this opportunity. I will not let you down.” Diana said just as she couldn’t hold it back any longer. I could hear and feel A sniffle, another deep breath and a soft sense of relief on the other side. This is the first time I felt her heart and there would be many more times to come in the next 3 years. As we have grown to know each other over these last 3 years Diana has been a sounding board for many of my good and not so good days. Many days Diana and I will joke about life, work or family. There are even times when we are laughing so damn loud you will hear doors slam in the office… telling us we are being too loud. It’s times like this we both look at each other as say, “Life is too short
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