You’ll Never Know the Value of a Moment until it becomes a Memory

People ask me about how I started my magazine, Moments Matter, and how did we come up with the name and theme.

When we were discussing publishing a magazine, we were going back and forth on many names and themes. But it returned to the message and title of my first book, Moments Matter. That book was written to share how, when challenging times arrive, the moments you have had in your life taught you the lessons you need when that defining moment hits.

My mission for the magazine is for people from all backgrounds to share about their defining moment and how they addressed and overcame it, using moments from their past as a reference.

I am in awe of some of the stories my contributors have shared. That is why I started to interview them on Facebook so people can not only read their stories but hear from their own lips, the mindset to overcome and achieve.

When I write and speak, I try to tie a moment from my past I learned to show why it’s important to not take any moment for granted, they are there for a reason and purpose and they will serve you.

And that is why what happened on January 15, 2009 still resonates with people around the world. It was a significant positive moment not only for the 155 people on the plane and the First Responders but the people of New York City, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut and the world. There was a moment in the past with a commercial passenger plane in New York City which didn’t end well and this moment showed people that hope still abides.

I was blessed to be a very small part of the production of the movie Sully. Our local theater was kind to have a special run of the movie for my family, friends and me. When I first saw it, I was extremely emotional. Not so much for me re-living my experience, ( yes, I did have a few of those moments) but how Clint Eastwood pulled out the moments in the Captain’s life that added up so in that most signficant moment, he was able to do something very few pilots could do and save 155 lives.

That moment was shortly after my encounter with my two neighbors, who were concentration camp survivors, and hearing their stories about the moments in their life that helped them survive a horrific situation and have a fulfilling life.

The universe was telling me something.

You’ll Never Know the Value of a Moment until it becomes a Memory.

That moment on the plane for me was a culmination of those moments in my life that were there for a reason and a purpose and they were about to serve me.

If you look back through your life, I would bet there were moments in your life you didn’t know why the universe was treating you that way. You didn’t deserve it, but it happened and is a part of your life.

And as you go through your life, the memory of that moment probably came to you when you had a significant moment or decision you had to make.

And how you responded in that significant moment came down to the meaning you attached to that moment.

Because the meaning you attach to that prior moment determines what emotion you bring to the significant moment right now and emotion is your life.

MEANING = EMOTION, EMOTION = LIFE

When I speak with people to invite them to contribute to my magazine, I am looking for someone who has overcome or done something significant and can relate a moment in their life that contributed to them achieving that outcome.

Our memory is one of the most valuable resources we have. I often talk about the two key traits in leadership, being able to make a decision and resourcefulness.

When you face those challenging times, you suddenly realize the value of those previously insignificant moments because they reside in your memory. And when all stuff hits the fan, that memory just may be the resource you need to give you the strength, mindset and resillency to succeed.

How Cindy and I came up with the story of my book Moments Matter was when she asked me to look at what I had to do during the Miracle on the Hudson to survive and what were the moments and lessons in my past that I called upon in my memory to execute in a most dire time.

The Olympics just came to conclusion. There were many amazing performances but more importantly, amazing stories of the athletes that shared the moments in their lives that got them to the big stage.

That’s why I love watching the Olympics and publishing my magazine Moments Matter. Everybody has moments in their lives that helped them get to where they are.

The Olympics, are about ordinary people producing extraordinary outcomes. Just to get to the Olympics you have to get an extraordinary outcome.

And the people I am honored to feature in Moments Matter magazine are ordinary people who looked back in their memory bank and made a withdrawl of a moment to produce an extraordinary result.

Everybody has those moments. I encourage you to look back through your life at the good and bad times. Write them down, think about what happened in that moment and relate it to a time in your life that it helped you.

And you will have your Moments Matter experience and story. If you have one of those, please let us know at davesandersonspeaks.com and we just may invite you to share it in an upcoming edition of Moments Matter Magazine.

Remember to always EMBRACE UNCERTAINTY when it comes into your life. It will open up POSSIBILITES that will IGNITE OPPORTUNITY and you will have a BREAKTHROUGH which will TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE!

Go to davesandersonspeaks.com, books and magazines to get your complementary download of the Summer Edition of Moments Matter the Magazine!