A person I looked up to in many ways passed away this week. Though it was extremely sudden and glaringly unexpected, I don’t believe it was related to the pandemic. I don’t know how many times I’ll end up writing about my friend Bob, but I know that he will be mentioned many times in my life. I often refer to him as a “real life Nicolas Cage,” because of his rare tale and film-like persona.
Real Life Nicolas Cage, Not My Friend
I don’t want to talk too personally about him on here, but rather share a few things I learned from my friend Bob.
It’s never shameful to ‘work for God’
I always believed in something greater than myself. I still do and always will. But I do not know how I personally could get so far away from living a God-driven lifestyle. There are many ways to live life, but to truly know within your self that you are living truly is difficult. This challenge is even more difficult in 2020. Bob gave great attention to religion in an honest way that raised my interest in his fearless tone.
There are Chapters to Life
Though I do not know the entire story of my friend Bob, I do know a few different things. If you were to hear all of the things in one sentence, you probably would never think they could possibly all be about one person. Bob had a tale as long as you could tell, but I believed every word he ever said. He spoke with an honesty and pride only a truthful person could possess. Through good or bad, the truth was spoken.
Don’t Be Afraid to Open Up
During various times throughout my professional career, Bob would end up popping up amidst some sort of personal crisis of mine. I am not one to openly share my personal grievances with just anyone, but I am also one to talk openly with select few. What I learned was that even in an “adult,” professional relationship, it’s okay to open up and be your full self. That is what got you to that moment in time, that is who introduced you to that conversation, that is how you became that moment in your life.
Never Back Down
I was able to know Bob at least at a professional level for 5 years. In that time, prior to his recent death I was able to hear about several instances he was forced to endure through. A serious car accident, familial tragedy, health issues are just a few things I can recollect seeing him endure through as a person and as a business owner. It was impressive to see his forward motion throughout trying times.
Stop Looking Around, Look Up
Some of the most recent advice Bob gave me was in relation to today’s Trying Times. Though he was not on paper the same as I am, you could say he could politically on paper be the yin to my yang in some ways, we never needed to even broach the topic of politics. We shared a personal respect for one another that because we try to work for what is just and true, that will always be more important than the person in office at any given time.
When looking around at everything that could or would be going wrong around you, look up. I will always look up to you Bob, RIP.
