Live's Well Lived

I have never claimed to be the best blogger or the most informative person in the world wide web we call the internet. I write when I feel like it and my stories often have no direction. I want to be able to inform you, make you laugh, make you cry, make you do a little dance and make a little love, but most of all, I want to inspire you. Today, I bring you three things that I hope make you think about what it is you are doing today, tomorrow, and forever into the future. Inspiration is often short lived; coming in spurts, but often never lasting. Today, I hope that changes for you.

Our first story comes out of my hometown of Stillwater and a young man named Zach Sobiech. By now, I would hope that all of you have heard his song "Clouds", a beautiful song Zach wrote for his family during his battle with a rare form of cancer. Zach passed away this morning. Living beyond what any doctor any thought, Zach chose to live each precious day to the max that it could be. I only knew Zach's family for a short time as I went to elementary school with his older sister Alli. If you happen to find this post Alli, know that you and your family are loved by more than just a community, but by a nation that somehow found hope Zach's song. Found on websites such as People Magazine and the Today show, Zach's story has reached beyond what was imaginable. While Zach is now gone, his music will continue to inspire and give hope to everyone who has every had a loved one taken away by disease. If you haven't seen these yet, I urge you to watch. I have always said that music can make a moment, but in Zach's case, music helped extend a life beyond that of the physical nature.

"That's what Zach's always been really good at: recognizing what is good and being grateful for it. It's the first thing he seeks out, his starting point. He taught all of us how it's done."














Our next story comes from an inspirational woman who is taking her journey to better health public with an amazing, real, honest, funny, and gritty approach that makes weight loss real and approachable. Her story is one that many of us have been or are on ourselves. She has the courage to make it public and just be herself. Her writing style brings for the approachability that makes a story a story. It is not a story of quick methods, fast results, or Biggest Loser transformation. It is just one woman who has taken it upon to herself to find the person who she really is inside. Enjoy.

Our third and final story of today may not seem like the big inspirational stories I have shared with you today. But to me, it is. Minnesota recently passed the bill to legalize gay marriage, becoming just the 12th US state to lift the ban. To me, love is not about gender roles or status. It is not restricted to a man and woman. It is about a feeling of having that one person who, in words I have heard recently, will walk behind you on your greatest days and walk in front of you on your worst. It is about the pure contentment of knowing that you have found that one person who will forever have your back. So, for those who would argue against the fact that it should not happen between those of same sex genders, I respect your opinion. I only ask you this one question. What would you do if you had a majority of the country telling you that you could marry that person? Just think about it. I am not an advocate of gay marriage, I am an advocate for love and the right to enjoy the benefits of being married to that love. So, this brings me back around to the common theme that music can inspire and surprise. Macklemore, the current rage of dance music who's famous works include "Can't Hold Us" and the ever present "Thrift Shop" has written a song with a message. He has gone beyond the realm of his genre to reach a new audience. Listen to the words, think about the message, and just enjoy the music. Tell someone you love them today people, life is too short not too and too long to live alone.