This blog was first published on May 11, 2011. It has been updated where necessary:
Dan Millman’s life looked spelled out. A trampoline artist, his next stop was the Olympics. But, weeks before he was to leave, another life plan intervened – Dan was in a motorcycle accident. And it shattered his leg in forty places.
The story is told in his Way of the Peaceful Warrior, and adapted into a feature film Peaceful Warrior, starring Nick Nolte. All that came before our first meeting, when I interviewed Dan about his book Everyday Enlightenment. It was a good ten years ago, but he remembered me, graciously saying that he had enjoyed that interview.
Despite the rain, Dan had walked to the studio where we met. The cameramen still fussing with lighting and gear, Dan and I sat on a bench, reconnecting. There was no hurry to Dan. No rush. Just as in his book The Four Purposes of Life, Dan lives in the moment. That’s the fourth purpose, by the way, a blend of the first three, living in the moment.
The first purpose is learning life’s lessons. Much like his motorcycle accident derailed his Olympic dreams, life often has grander plans for us. Dan is a teacher, sweet and humble, admits he doesn’t always get it right, but, well, that’s what life is for, it’s a classroom. Fortunately, it’s pass/fail, and we get to try again. Let me rephrase that – life will hit us again, harder each time, till we get the lesson. The second purpose is finding your career and your calling – which may not be the same thing! The third purpose is discovering your life path. You can find that on Dan’s website, it is akin to numerology. Mine is 35/8. The three is for expression, the five for freedom, and the eight pertains to recognition.
After the interview, Dan signed my book “for my respected friend, media angel, Diana.” I may have blushed.
The main takeaway for me? Just enjoy life – whatever comes at you – and realize that it’s all on purpose. It’s a faith thing. One of my lessons.