Are You Living a Meaningful Life?

Dear friend,

Originally I had mixed feelings about posting this
message on my blog, as it’s not related to real
estate investing in any shape or form, but is more
specific to life in general and tackles a much deeper
subject matter.

It is also meant as a small way to honour the memory
of a friend, and the many millions more just like him.
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Spurred on by a personal and tragic event in my life
that took place this weekend, which soberly prompted
me to ask myself this question, and in turn, put this
forward to you as well,  I would encourage you to
take a few moments and ponder the title of this email
in concert with the message of what I’m writing to
you here today.

Your personal response to this question, which is
an answer only you will know, just may lead you down
a different path in your life.

Here’s why…

While this past Canadian Thanksgiving weekend was
meant to be a festive one, full of gratitude, good
times, warmth, and friendly gatherings, there were
a number of people – and eventually, an entire
nation – who became gripped by shock, grief, and
then outrage at the slaying of my friend,
RCMP Constable Christopher Worden, who was gunned
down in the line of duty at a residence this past
Saturday morning, having answered a call for help.

At the age of 30, Chris leaves behind a loving wife,
and his baby daughter.

The media has more on the details of Chris’ murder
and the investigation into the suspect’s believed
to have slaughtered him in the woods near that home,
so I will not go into these at all.

Instead, by writing this it perhaps serves as a
small relief outlet for me…but I’m not here to vent
whatsoever.  

On the contrary, in another way altogether, amidst
the shock and waves of sorrow I felt once I received
news of Chris’ death, a part of me sought meaning 
to make out just a little bit of sense in his
gruesome murder. 
(Right now, I’m still at a loss to answer that).  

Yet one thing did arise from the mix of thoughts that
have been racing through my mind the past two days,
which I felt important to bring to your attention. 

This has led me to relay this question for you to
contemplate…and I only ask  that you be brutally
honest with yourself as you continue to read further.

But to provide you with some background on my thought
process, I think it would be best to start off with
the time when Chris and I first met 10 years ago in
University, when he discovered that I was serving
in the Army.   Towering over 6 feet tall and solid
muscle, Chris was not only full of wit and charm which
served him just as well with the ladies as it did
with the guys, but he was also one of our school’s
finest football stars.  So I wasn’t sure what to
think when this big fellow came straight over to me
after class one evening – bubbling with enthusiasm
and a mile wide smile spread across his face, he
told me he was genuinely interested in learning all
about “Army” life as an infantry soldier and wanted
to learn more about it.

So rather than sugar-coat it, I told Chris straight
up what it was like – the fun and the nasty details
about Army life- ending with the fact that I had
just buried two of my closest Army buddies only
six months earlier….one of those friends of mine I
had known since the sixth grade, and enlisted at
the same time as me. 

Those two friends of mine, solid soldiers themselves,
had paid the ultimate sacrifice for becoming a part
of that Army life, which was nothing to take lightly.

Yet still, I had told him, even after that – and
more than ever – I wanted to continue in the hopes
of making sure their deaths were not in vain…and even
though I hated ironing and polishing boots, I continued
to have a great sense of pride that came from putting
on that uniform, prepared to do whatever my country
asked of me, knowing that at any time I could be
called up to head out on the next rotation to one
of Canada’s PeaceKeeping missions in Bosnia, Somalia,
the Golan Heights, Rwanda, or to half a dozen other
barely pronounceable regions the news agencies don’t
report about. 

If you know me by now, then you realize I’m not
someone running around with a death wish.  

Before, during, and even now after my time in
the military, I never looked forward to the prospect
of combat – and count myself as one of the lucky ones
who did not see it – but being a soldier
to me meant that I had a chance to stand up for a
way of life that I strongly believed in preserving, and would
be availble to play a small part in helping others who could not
(or could barely) fend for themselves to maintain peace in
their land, or defend against atrocities too monstrous
to imagine.

The way I saw it, because I was putting on that uniform,
it meant that someone else I loved probably wouldn’t have to.

I explained to Chris that to me, these were the two
reasons that drove me forward and filled me with a
great sense of purpose.

Seemingly undeterred by the negatives I pointed out to Army
life, Chris – who I came to know firsthand had a heart
like a lion, and would move mountains for people
without so much as a thought toward looking for a
‘thanks’ in return – nodded his head approvingly,
and although he was less than two years from graduation,
said (and this is virtually a direct quote) that he
still wasn’t exactly certain what he wanted to do,
but that “Something exactly like that” had great appeal to him.

I could tell from the look in his eye he meant that
with great respect and sincerity.

Unfortunatley, after University, like it so often happens when
you graduate, our lives went different ways and I never
saw Chris again. 

Yet a little while later he joined the RCMP and
swore an oath pledging that he would dedicate his
life to one of serviceship toward others…as you now
know, Chris has paid the ultimate sacrifice for
that decision.

But even though Chris was given an assignment that
took him out of his familiar surroundings of Ottawa,
Ontario where he had grown up…and been posted 6,000 miles
north and west near the edge of the Canadian Shield
in a small community near where the Arctic begins…

…Knowing him, I could imagine that he took to his newfound
home and post with a big grin, a light heart, and where
for five years continued his duties as a police officer.

Because that role, along with spending family time
with his wife and daughter, seems to have been what
provided Chris with the “meaning” in his life.

So once again, I put forward to you the question:

“Are You Living a Meaningful Life – one that has met
your ambitions and desires?”

Or, perhaps I should ask: “ARE YOU fulfilled – in all
aspects of your life: your career, your business,
your familial relationships, the relationship you
have with yourself, everything – right now?”

I’d say that if there’s something which causes you
to hesitate or ponder your own answer to this
question, you probably need to be doing some further
reflection and get to the heart of the matter by
realizing what it is that’s missing, then do something
about it.

Finally, the news of Chris’ death hit home and was
a strong reminder that caused me to have a more
profound sense of gratitude today.  

Gratitude because it imprinted upon me a tremendous
thought that seared into my brain as a startling
reminder that there are men and women right now
in every city and nation on this planet, who truly
feel fulfilled by putting their lives on the line
each and every day for my safety and yours.   

I’m furthermore grateful for those brothers and
sisters in uniform, and good Samaritans, who have
laid down their lives in the line of duty – fulfilling
a purpose they felt so strongly about, that it meant
more to them than preserving their own life – so
that someone, somewhere, like you or me, 
would not have to.

If you see one of those people today, be kind
enough to just walk up to them and simply say ‘thank you’
for what they’re doing.  

After all, they’re here to protect you…

In closing, one of my favourite quotes is “Carpe Diem”,
which is Latin for “Seize The Day!”.   

It’s my hope that whatever you’re doing in your life
now, wherever you may be, that you’re taking advantage
of every opportunity that will move you forward in
the direction you desire….

….And getting out there and creating those opportunities
for yourself – so that you will have a life that is “Fulfilled” by
your standards, and gives you a great sense of Purpose
and Meaning..

To my friend, Chris Worden, and the long line of
those who came before you that paid the ultimate
sacrifice…and to those who are with us living a life
full of “meaning”, who have dedicated themselves to
being good stewards of humanity right now, I will
always honour and cherish your memory, and be grateful
for what you do.

Forever in the bonds…
Brad Wozny

An online memorial has been setup for Chris Worden’s
family. 

To view Tribute Videos for Chris Worden, visit here  

To send a donation, or to simply forward your condolences
to Chris’ family & friends, please click here

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