We could’ve been anything we wanted to be

Let’s listen. A friend of mine reminded me of the lyrics to his favorite song. This song inspired him to make a dramatic life change in his late 40s.

At a time when all his friends were settled in careers, my friend was still searching. He never found his way in life until he was brave enough to be exactly who he wanted to be.

Telling people his true desire was the hardest part. The conversation would go like this:

“I’ve decided to be a stand-up comic.”

“That’s not funny! You have three kids to support. You can’t do it. It’s too late.”

It wasn’t too late. He found a way to do it. 

We helped each other make the jump to a new life. I gave him the gift of his first Improv class. He worked his magic to open my first standalone Being Valued office.

His first shot at stand-up was painful, and my first office was a dump. 

We made a promise to be exactly who we wanted to be.

My friend had a song to carry him through the hard times. He would sing “You Give a Little Love” by Paul Williams, and I would listen closely to the lyrics:

We could've been anything

That we wanted to be

Yes, that decision is ours

It's been decided we're weaker divided

Let friendship double our powers

You give a little love

And it all comes back to you

You know you’re gonna be remembered

For the things you say and do

Over the next ten years, I watched my friend build the career and the life he truly wanted. Our last time together, he glowed with pure joy and told me:

“I love my children. And, I love being exactly who I wanted to be.”

I didn’t know it would be our last time together. People keep asking me how he died when all I can think about is how he lived.

I keep hearing him singing, and I pray we all listen.

Let’s listen together. Let’s promise to be exactly who we wanted to be. Yes, that decision is ours. It's been decided we're weaker divided. Let friendship double our powers.