What have you done today to make you feel proud?

I was diagnosed with cancer after my first of two years in grad school. Going back to school was not a problem for me. I was surrounded by friends, coaching golf, and studying to receive a MBA in finance. While times were tough that year, I tried to have a normal life and enjoyed it. After a week, a month, and even a year, it had always been hard for me to find the silver lining with my cancer diagnosis. People asked me all the time, “How has it changed you? What have you learned?” To be honest, I never knew how to answer that. I was pretty happy-go-lucky BC (before cancer). I was thankful for my family, friends, and for the life that I had. I felt that I cherished the small things, that I stopped to smell the roses (or fresh cut grass on the 18th tee) that I made the best of each situation, and all that other cliché stuff. As for change after cancer, I was still the Dan that I knew, at least for the first 12 months after cancer.

With the season premiere of the Biggest Loser, I couldn’t help but to pose the question again? How have I changed? What has made me feel proud? Meghan and I love the show. Watching the contestants lose 5, 10, 15, 20 pounds in one week is incredible (and borderline ridiculous). The show inspires, motivates, empowers, and enables Americans not just to lose weight, but change their lives.

Looking back at my last semester of grad school, I found the silver lining. It was the realization that I didn’t want to be in finance or work 80 hrs a week on Wall Street. The past 2+ years have been a blessing working for NCCS. After cancer, I can’t say that I’ve changed physically, spiritually, etc. but I’ve definitely changed perspectives. Someone who has cancer thinks about cancer everyday. I knew during the last semester of school, that if I’m going to think about cancer everyday, I might as well be doing something positive about it. Beyond the foundation, the scholarships, and the other survivors I’ve come across, I’m lucky to have found such a great organization to work for. For those of you that may not be able to say that about their job, what have you done today to make you feel proud? What have you done to be a better father? Mother? Husband? Wife? Son? Daughter? Co-worker? Friend? If you know you need to change, do it today. Don’t wait until tomorrow, next week, next month, next whatever. Tomorrow is today.

“You could be so many people, if you make that break for freedom… “