We lost Arnold Palmer this week, and whether you’re a golf fan or not you’ve undoubtedly heard of Arnold. I’m an avid golfer and fan of the game, and was moved by his passing. While I never met him personally, I’ve heard many stories about him, and in the past two many more.
His blue collar beginnings and how he entered the game of golf—and changed it. He brought more passion, excitement and fans to the game. He pushed to create a better PGA that improved the game for professional golfers. He was a mentor to golfers on the tour with old school beliefs like shaking everyone’s hand and looking them in the eye; taking your hat off indoors, and signing your autograph so people could read it.
The stories from golfers and others are endless about how he affected their lives. His humanitarian efforts were many, including the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children that affected the lives of many more through 25 years. A hospital that saved the life of his friend Annika Sorenstam’s (pro golfer) baby who was born at 27 weeks.
Everyone talks about his smile, how caring and charismatic he was—a jokester and full of life. He even has a drink named after him! He was a successful business man who made a lot of money, but he stayed down to earth and approachable. Yet he lived life so BIG they call him The King.
This is someone’s life we can celebrate instead of talking about the tragic way they lived, or died. It is to me, truly refreshing and inspires me to live BIGGER, to care more, to do more to help people improve their lives in whatever way I can. It inspires me to go beyond my mission to help each of you live MAGNIFICENT lives, to offer more kindness, more compassion, a bigger smile, and give even more to the arts and animals I support.
How do you live your life? Are you constrained by your own beliefs, excuses, complaints and everything that happens to you? Isn’t it time you lived BIG and took advantage of what you do have to create the life you’ve been wishing for? Add more gratitude into your daily life, give more compliments, get off your phone, look into people’s eyes when you talk to them, or when you check out at the register, laugh more and give more hugs. Let other people know you care. You may be a source of inspiration for someone without even knowing it.
C’mon and join me, let’s live BIG!
