What We Can Learn from the Passing of Tim Russert…
Jun 16 2008
NBC News commentator and Wasington Bureau Chief Tim Russert passed away unexpectedly of sudden cardiac death on Friday, June 13th. He was only 58.
As a long-time news and Sunday AM talk show junkie, I greatly appreciated Russert’s even hand with the news. Despite Democratic leanings, he took great pains to treat virtually every guest with an even-hand and asked tough questions. He is probably one of the best journalists of the last 25 years.
I had the fortune to meet Mr. Russert while traveling on business several years ago and found him to be very approachable. He happily autographed a copy of his book – quickly purchased by me in the airport bookstore – with a very nice personal note for my mother-in-law, who is a huge fan. We parted ways after making small talk for a bit and I walked away thinking, “There is a gentleman”.
As I pondered his untimely death and wondered at the suddeness, I was struck by how many things I keep putting off ‘until tomorrow’…with the assumption that tomorrow will always be there. I wonder how many things Mr. Russert pushed down the pike, with the tacit understanding that he could always get to them later?
How many things that you either really want to do or really should do are you procrastinating on, figuring that you always have next week or next month or next year? Quick…take a few moments and jot them down. What’s stopping you from doing it right now? I imagine that most of us have a list that is fairly long and that it ranges from the mundane, such as balance the checkbook to the important, such as spend more quality time with the kids to the epic, such as complete an Ironmman-length triathlon.
As servicemembers in harm’s way…the potential that tomorrow may not come is ever-present, given the dangerous nature of the work and current combat operations. Look down your list and think about what you would miss most…if today was the last day. Got it? Now I challenge you to go out and do it…right now!
Godspeed, Mr. Russert.
