She stepped onto the treadmill next to mine at the gym in a town I was visiting. I had slowed down, being nearly finished with my workout. \u201cHello\u201d she said with a warm smile. I returned her greeting and we began to chat. She was a cancer survivor, she told me, having spent years enduring radiation and chemotherapy. I noticed the absence of regret or resentment \u2013 of any trace of victim mentality. \u201cI can only walk\u201d, she told me. She had been a marathon runner before cancer struck.<\/p>\n
We continued our conversation, each of us at the same pace on our respective treadmills. I learned she \u201cwalked\u201d daily and was able, at this point in her recovery, to complete 10 minutes of exercise each day. I learned she had been married for 55 years to a man who was also a pediatrician: the two had worked together in a children\u2019s clinic for almost 30 years. They raised 4 children along the way \u2013 all of whom are living nearby with \u201cmany\u201d grandchildren. Her smile broadened when she spoke of her family. We continued sharing our lives until her 10 minutes were completed. She shook my hand warmly as she left for her car.<\/p>\n
I watched her leave through the windows facing the parking lot of the gym. She waved to a friend while unlocking her car. As she pulled slowly out into traffic, I felt renewed \u2013 somehow transformed. My perspective had shifted in those few minutes to one of deep gratitude, to a sense of belonging\u2026to feeling inspired and uplifted.<\/p>\n
I have thought back on my experience with this woman \u2013 let\u2019s call her \u201cJoan\u201d \u2013 and how my own life changed from simply talking with her. In looking back, I realize she taught me three things of great value that I will remember forever:<\/p>\n
Live in gratitude always <\/em> Living in gratitude rather than regret, accepting life as it is, and extending a warm greeting to the person next to you might be a model for change, for peace\u2026or at least a big step forward for our world. In her simple, honest way, \u201cJoan\u201d spoke to a planet in pain, to a culture starving for 10 minutes of the gift of her presence. May we all learn from this woman and share her gift of hospitality and kindness, of courage and bravery, of vulnerability and generosity.<\/p>\n What about you? Do you have a story of someone who has impacted your life? I would love to hear. Please feel free to share your experience. Let\u2019s begin now: \u201cStories of inspiration, courage, and generosity\u201d welcome here!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" She stepped onto the treadmill next to mine at the gym in a town I was visiting. I had slowed down, being nearly finished with my workout. \u201cHello\u201d she said with a warm smile. I returned her greeting and we began to chat. She was a cancer survivor, she told me, having spent years enduring radiation and chemotherapy. I noticed the absence of regret or <\/p>\n
\nDo what you can and be at peace with it<\/em>
\nDon\u2019t hesitate to say \u201chello\u201d to a stranger<\/em><\/p>\n