Well, hello, my friends, and welcome to the Live Inspired podcast Monday Morning Moments with John O'Leary.

I'm going to take you back in time a little bit for this one.

Way back in the early 2000s, I worked in residential construction.

As a general contractor, my days were long, they were dusty, and they were jammed, with

deadlines difficult to hit, trust me.

I rehab homes, managed teams, solved problems sometimes, raced the clock always,

and frequently fell short. On one specific job site, a man challenged me through his presence to

slow down, celebrate the gift of the moment, and authentically connect with others.

Walt's Erie walked by the job site with his dog each day.

He'd wave.

He'd call me out for our daily visit, give me some trouble, then some encouragement

before thanking me for making his neighborhood just a little bit more beautiful.

Now listen, my friends, there were many

days I did not want to stop working for those visits. There were just too many things to do.

There was just too much going wrong and there was just not quite enough time in the day.

But something in Walt, his consistency, his joyfulness,

his genuine interest made me pause and slow down and simply savor the conversation. In other words,

savor the moment. Back then, I had no idea who he really was. I had no idea that he had served

in the United States of Marine Corps, had no idea he was really was. I had no idea that he had served in the United States and Marine Corps.

Had no idea he was a general consul at one of the largest companies in the world.

I had no idea that years later, I'd eventually sell my pickup truck and tool belt, buy a laptop and a sport coat, and began a journey as an inspirational speaker.

And I had no idea whatsoever that eventually Walt and I would reconnect in an even more meaningful way than those walks.

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