I know I haven't updated this blog in a very long time and that a lot has gone on in the lives of the Mauros, but there is something outside of us that I want to write about.
Last week I learned that a good friend of mine, Travis Alexander, passed away. He was found murdered in his home.
I'm still in shock over this. First off, that he's gone, and second, that something so brutal could happen to someone I know. I haven't been as close to him recently, mostly because I'm married now, but it is still very difficult for me.
Travis was an amazing friend, an incredibly influential person. A couple years ago, I was introduced to him through some mutual friends who were roomates of his. For nearly an entire year, I was at his house several times a week. Not long after I met him, I fell on some very difficult times. I was in college and money was tight, and I was lacking the confidence to find a job to pull myself out of the situation. Travis offered to pay me to clean his house, run errands, and walk the dog. I spent a few months doing that for him. I helped paint his house, I washed his laundry, and in return, he not only paid me with money, but with knowledge. He got me addicted to personal development and audio books. As a matter of fact, I found some CDs a few weeks ago that belonged to him, and I was meaning to take them back to his house...Much of who I am now is because of Travis. He inspired me to learn and grow every day. Every week he would have a "mastermind" group over at his house and would offer some kind of lesson or training. I loved listening to him speak. He could command the attention of everyone in the audience without even really trying. I wanted to be able to do that. I still want to be able to do that. I would study for hours and practice speaking in front of the mirror so that I could participate in the trainings. The best part about his training was that even though many of the people who came were of different religions, he would always figure out a way to work something in about gospel principles. It amazed me how casually, and yet how eloquently, he would teach about the gospel without anyone even knowing he was doing it.
And now he's gone. And I've seen far too many CSI epsiodes, so I keep picturing what I think it would have been like in my mind. I spent countless hours in his bedroom where he was found, I helped paint that room, so I know every last detail! I even slept in his bed while I was house-sitting for him back in the day. He was a strong guy - he was the one that started me on Body For Life, and even now when I think about healthy foods, there's always a little thought in the back of my mind, "would Travis have eaten this if it weren't cheat day?" So how could this have happened? My friend? Murdered?
The memorial service on Monday was beautiful. The spirit was strong, and I knew that Travis would continue to inspire and influence everyone in that room. The legacy that he left behind would live on.
And now I wonder that if I were to die tomorrow, what would be said about me at my funeral? I've been to funerals before where I haven't really known the person, and I've wondered if they were talking the person up. I've watched the news where family and friends talk about how shocked they are that so-and-so was killed because they were such a good person, and I've asked myself if they could really have been all that great if they got themselves into a situation where they were killed. But I knew that everything that was said about Travis was true. Would people have that many wonderful things to say about me? What have I done to touch the lives of others? What have I done to change the world?
And so, I have decided that I will keep the memory of Travis alive by doing all that I can do be like him, to help others, to motivate and inspire and better the lives of everyone that I come in contact with.
If I can have even half of the comments left in his memory when I leave this earth, then I will consider my life a success.
To read more about Travis and to learn from his great wisdom, visit his blog at www.TravisAlexander.net
