The Challenge: What Have You Done Today?

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Recently, someone in my family passed away, and since his death, I have pondered a story that he often told me about a feat he accomplished as a high-schooler.

To be clear, my words and thoughts are not meant to be critical or disrespectful, but rather introspective and curious, so please don’t misunderstand my intentions with this article.

So, the story goes like this: Nearly every time I saw this family member—about four times a year for at least the past 40 years, so a total of at least 160 times—he would tell me with such pride about how, in high school, he had climbed the rope hanging in the school gymnasium faster than any other kid in his gym class.

This was no doubt a very good memory for him, and obviously something that he took much pride in. Long, long before his passing, however, I often felt sad in hearing this story, because it seemed as if his life had stopped at that point in time—or at least that the good times had. It was also as though this event gave him a proverbial “get out of jail free card” that allowed him to stop taking on any further major challenges in life. Basically saying, I did my thing, no more else to do.

I understand holding onto those little victories of our younger years. After we become adults, we are often bombarded with responsibilities, things to do, and life itself, often including disappointments that we put ahead of any present or future dreams or hopes. It becomes all about being responsible or just getting by. I would be less than honest if I didn’t admit there have been numerous times in my life when I felt that very same way, and I would be kidding myself if I didn’t admit there will be times I will feel that way again.

But, as I have said before, we only have one life on this planet, and I think it is up to each of us to not only appreciate it, but maybe even more importantly respect it enough to live it to its fullest. When your best and proudest memories are decades behind you, there can be no doubt you have left a lot of life on the table.

While this family member was out of shape most of the time I knew him, and there is no way he could have ever climbed a rope again (at least, not without extensive training), he wasn’t so out of shape that he couldn’t have managed to get back in shape, even into his sixties, if he had a mind to. In fact, I have no question or doubt that he could have easily gotten back in shape and climbed the rope well into his late 70s. Hell knowing him, he may have been able to do it into his eighties.

Stop and think about it: here he was so proud about something he did as a kid that most kids his age could do, but imagine the pride he could have taken in doing something in his 70s that nearly no one, remotely close to his age could do! While he would have scoffed at such a crazy suggestion, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he was easily capable of such a feat.

Instead of continuing to challenge himself and work to maintain any physical fitness, he spent his time in his recliner watching TV, living his life vicariously through sports, movies, and old re-runs. The majority of his physical activity came from visiting the grocery store. I am sure there was occasionally a good game or a good movie he say, but if he did he never spoke to me about it, like he did his high school rope climbing.

So, the question, or challenge, I have for you is, “What have you done today?”