I Refuse To Go To The Grave Without Telling My Story

Posted on 01/19/2015

I want to thank Angelo Parker for helping me find the courage to tell the world why and for providing me with the missing pieces to my story.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain

That is my absolute favorite quote of all time.  The purpose of life for every living being is to discover the reason for their existence.  We are all small in the grand scheme of things, but our presence could leave such a large impact that we are impossible to forget.  What better day to recognize this, than on Martin Luther King Day?  He walked the Earth for but 39 years, but his presence will live on forever.  I'm not saying that each of us will have an impact of that magnitude, but we can each, most definitely leave our mark on this world.

 I am so thankful that I discovered, WHY I AM HERE.  About 2 years ago, I began hearing the whisperings of the Universe.  I heard what has been repeated to me my whole life, starting with the voice of my mother.  She always told me that my way of speaking to others would someday allow me to touch the lives of a multitude of people.  Over the years, I have been told countless times that I have a gift for talking to people, whether it is counseling people, speaking to troubled youth or just talking to my friends and family.  Over the past 2 years, I have come to accept what so many have told me, but I didn't feel that I could be effective without sharing my whole truth.  My biggest fear has been that I would pass on or go to the grave without sharing my full story. 

Three weeks ago, I received a call from one of my old Marine Corp buddies, Angelo Parker.  I hadn't spoken to him in 24 years. Unbeknownst to me, for 24 years, Parker thought I was dead.  YES DEAD!  You see, he, along with the rest of my Marine Corp buddies, were told that the last night they saw me, would in fact be the last time they would ever see me alive.  They were told that undoubtedly, I would be dead in 6 months.  So, imagine his surprise when he found out I was still alive.  That first phone call with him was undeniably, the most emotional conversation I have ever had.  It's indescribable to hear and fully understand that I was supposed to be dead at 19 years old, but then realize that 24 years later I am still here and thriving.  It is truly a blessing.  I knew that The Marine Corps had sent a Staff Sergeant to my mother's house to let her know that her son would be dead in 6 months.  I remember that they tried to prepare me as best as they could, that I wouldn't survive longer than 6 months.  However, when Parker informed me that not only had they planned my funeral, but he had a role to play in it as well, I was floored.  Parker explained that when he arrived to his new command states side, his commander informed him that when I passed, he would be flown back to Japan to be a part of the security detail to escort my body back to America.  The 3 weeks since our conversation has been very turbulent emotionally for me.  I have gone back and forth about telling my story.  I have prayed and meditated about it, but most importantly, I spoke with my wife about it and we both agree that it is time for me to tell my story.  My journey in those 24 years has been nothing short of amazing.  I think I have lived my life, like I would die tomorrow.  I have most definitely lived.  No longer am I ashamed.  I am free.  So tomorrow I will joyously release, "2 Years, 3 Months, 26 Days and 11 Hours, My Journey To Death And Back, Part 1".  I started writing a book because I couldn't put all of this information into a blog series.  This will be my most honest truth.  I refuse to go to the grave without telling my story. This is my truth.  What's yours? 

Making Your Dash COUNT

 Posted by ~ Sheldon Redditt on 01/06/2015

Dedicated to all those that HAVE made their dash COUNT

All of us are going to die or as I believe pass on to the next level of existence. I don't believe in death as an end all.  I believe that we simply pass on to another level of existence. I don't believe that God would create us to live for 70 or 80 years and that's it, but that's another post altogether.  When you pass on, marked on your tombstone, will be your birth date, a DASH and the date you left this world.  The most important thing on that tombstone is that DASH.  Now, the dash is the smallest thing on the tomb stone, but it is, by far, the most important.  You see, that DASH, tells your story; everything you were, everything you accomplished and all you meant to the world and the people in it.  It tells us what kind of person you were.  If you were a great spouse, a great father, mother or friend, it's written in that dash.  That DASH tells all about you.  I know and believe that we were all put here to make a impact on this Earth.  Albeit, some impacts will be greater than others but that is our purpose, to make that dash count.  When you pass on, what do you want your DASH to say about you?  When I pass on, I want my DASH to say that I was a great Husband and Father.  Did I make mistakes?  Of course I did, but when I leave I want to know that I finally got it right.  It's important to me that I was a great friend.  It's important to me that I tried to make a difference, NO, that I did make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.  For me, "trying", is just a noble way of saying, "I failed".  I want to make so much of an impact while I'm here that when I do pass on, a big smile brightens someone's face, every time my name is mentioned. 

As I sit here writing, I received news that a former co-worker just passed on from a freak accident at work.  He was 25 years young, with a wife and a new born baby girl.  My wife and I are so saddened by this news.  I was telling my wife that this young man MADE HIS DASH COUNT!  He was doing the work that he loved to do.  He was making a difference in this world.  You see, what it made me realize, is this... It does not matter how long or short of a time you are here, it's what you do with your time on this Earth. In the 25 years he was on this Earth, he made more of an impact with the kids that he helped than some people do that have lived 100 years.  He had a wife that he adored and together they brought a beautiful little girl into this world.  He touched so many of his co-workers lives in so many ways.  And I'm sure that there a plethora of others lives, that I could never know the way he impacted them, but I have no doubt, he did.  But most of all, his dash counted because he was happy and he was living a life that he loved.

What are you doing to make your dash count?  Are you living or are you existing?  There is a big difference in the two.  To exist is to quote an old Jackson Browne song, "The Pretender".  "I've been aware of the time going by.  They say in the end it's the wink of an eye.  And when the morning light comes streaming in.  You'll get up and do it again.... I'm going to be a happy idiot.  And struggle for the legal tender."  To live, is to wake up each new day with a purpose; to do your purpose, what you are meant to do in this moment in time, with enthusiasm and happiness.  Living is surrounding yourself, with love and friendship, family and friends.  

I am so grateful that I have found my purpose.  I know why I am here.  I'm here to help people; to be of service.  There are many avenues that I have taken to do this and many more out there to explore.  I think motivational speaking is the next on my list of endeavors.  With each new endeavor, I find myself full of excitement, joy and filled with a new thought driven purpose.  Living at its finest!  I am determined to make my dash count.  That for me includes telling the real Sheldon Redditt story and it will blow you away.  I hope that each of you will begin to think about your dash and what you can do to set the world on fire.  I heard that the richest place on Earth is the local cemetery.  Rich with thoughts and ideas that were never shared or executed.  Please, don't add to that richness.  Make the world rich, above ground!  This is my truth!  What's yours?