Thanks Russ

I just finished reading the part of Russ H’s Plan where you have to write down what if anything you would take in the event of a fire that destroyed all of your possetions. My answer was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. And then it hit me.. the reason I viewed these objects as something important is because I needed something to prove that I was on this planet…but when it comes down to it, cars, houses, planes…it doesn’t mean shit.

And then for whatever reason I thought about our soldiers fighting overseas…giving up their lives, fighting for our freedom. They don’t care about their salary, they don’t care about the stuff they don’t have…They give us their time and lives for our freedoms and rights, that most of us take for granted. The whole time that I’m writing this I’ve been crying profusely…why…I’m not even sure…maybe because I’ve been wasting my time trying to get to a level that didn’t mean the paper it was printed on. I’m actually getting extremely light headed and my face is starting to get numb, but regardless I have to get through this.

And now everytime that I hear of a new Canadian or American fatality I stop what I’m doing and I salute them. I don’t care who sees me doing it or what they have to say, I”ll do it anyway. These brave men and women have given up something that I could never give up..and for what? ..so that I can complain about things as benign as the weather or complain about what I don’t have??

People will so soon forget about what you own (car, boat, house, cash) the second that you leave their mind…People will even forget about who you are, your name, everything…..but they’ll NEVER forget what you did to help them, or what you did to change the world we share…I know I won’t.

You know..I might forgo my dream of having an exotic car or a big house for a few years or even altogether if it means that I could use the money instead to send impoverished children in Africa to be educated in school, or to give hope to those with life threatening deseases who’ve all but lost that last thread of hope. If I could take all the pain in the world, both emotional and physical, I would…because in the end nothing matters….except the life you choose to lead and the people that you inspire.

Russ., I don’t even know your name, and I wouldn’t even be able to pick you out of a crowd. And in twenty years I propably won’t be able to recall the simple question you posed that changed my life forever…..but I’ll always remember how it changed me. (I’m still crying and shaking). So for that I truly thank you with all my heart…something that until this day, I’ve never been able to use because it was blinded by my eyes.

When I think about it….I have nothing. Sure I have material things…but they don’t equate to anything, they don’t matter, and if I lost them tomorrow I wouldn’t give a shit. I’ve never helped anybody in my life…not even myself….but as of today I vow to make that change……to make a difference.

One day I’ll have to meet you. I can say with total conviction that everything in my life non-monetary that I can be proud of is because of you in large part. Words can not begin to portray how this has changed my life. (I’ve been crying for at least two hours now..but I’m all alone everyday so it makes no difference.)

Who knew that a simple sentence of ten words or so..could have such a big impact on my life going forward. Thank you Russ……..thank you.

As Ronald Reagan once said so eloqently, "Some people live their whole lives not knowing if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem."

- Hakrjak

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"Don't let good enough be good enough" -- Coach Bill Parcells to Tony Romo upon leaving the Dallas Cowboys.

Someone I know who's made a lot of money through poker, is actually headed to Africa again today to visit up on a school he's building there. He's set himself and his family up financially, so has the ability to use extra money to make a difference doing things like that. I don't think you have to give up everything you hoped for in terms of giving yourself nice things. I think you can do both.

this part was awesome to me

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http://snowbank23.blogspot.com/

I guess his name is russ