Three Miracles

I was two blocks from the gym when my body hit an invisible force field.

Stop, or I throw up.

That's what it told me. Not suggested. Told me.

So I stopped. Right there on the sidewalk, with my mom visiting from out of town, watching her son collapse on a random Saturday afternoon as if I'd just ran 100 miles.

I took my socks off, grounded myself, felt the grass between my toes. Believe it or not, lying there helpless, I learned more about business and life in 20 minutes than I had in the previous 20 days of "working on myself".

Because sometimes God has to make you lie down to teach you something.

So that when you stand up again, you're different; you learned.

The Fall

I'd been walking for barely an hour that day. First to a coffee shop, now toward the gym. My mom was visiting from out of town, and I had this whole plan. I wanted to show her my gym, train together, give her the full tour of my neighborhood.

I was so focused on what was next that I completely missed the signs my body was sending me.

Until my body said no, and I hit the grass.

I needed air. My mom rushed over, worry written all over her face. For one split second there, I thought I was going to pass out. I'm not even ashamed to admit it. What happened next was beautiful.

The Miracles

Miracle One: A random woman pulled up in her car. "Hey, you okay? Here, take this." She handed me bubble gum through her window and drove off. Just like that.

Miracle Two: A neighbor I'd never met appeared with a granola bar and Gatorade. "Drink this slowly," he said, sitting with us on the sidewalk like it was the most natural thing in the world.

By this point, my mom was so moved she was almost crying. Here I was, her son who'd been too focused on the next thing to pay attention to this moment, being cared for by complete strangers.

Miracle Three: The rain.

I'd never felt rain like that before. Cool, gentle, perfectly timed. It didn't just cool my body, it saved me. God saved me.

What’s funny is that even almost passed out, I still managed to resist. "I'm fine, thanks"

No, I wasn't. I'm thankful my mom said yes to that Gatorade.

The beautiful thing about being taken down like that is that that's all there is.

Life is simple: There's nothing you can do except be there.

Think About It

How many powerful conversations do we rush past? How many sweet moments, heartfelt experiences with people dear to us do we miss? How many chances to change someone's day, put a positive spin on things, create something, or just have fun? How much life goes by while you're distracted?

In my industry, every sale happens one person at a time. Every relationship forms through a series of conversations and shared experiences. But here's the thing: you can't have real conversations when you're not really there.

You wish for opportunity, but how will you see it when it comes if you're not present to notice it?

If you're afraid slowing down means falling behind, let me share with you a possibility, if you're open to it:

Getting what you want will not get you what you seek, truly, deeply, in your soul.

Because that which you seek, you were born with.

Read that again.

Why else do you think you're so attracted to it? Because you are it.

Take Action

Ever feel like life is living you, and not the other way around?

Try this: When you catch yourself forcing, pushing, hustling without presence, don’t wait until you burn out:

• Stop (literally, like my body made me do)

• Feel (what's actually happening right now, even if it hurts, even if you don't like it)

• Trust (that being present opens more doors than forcing ever could)

Your next opportunity might be staring you in the face. Are you present enough to see it?

Stay present.

Diego.

PS - I want to hear from you:

What signs have you been missing while focused on what's next?