Mission Possible: How Small Acts Lead to Massive Personal Growth

In the late 90s, I lived in Charlottesville, Virginia.

I had just started my career in the fitness industry, and to supplement my income, I did what I have done since the age of 11, landscaping.

I was returning home one evening after a long day of back-breaking work, driving down a long, flat, four-lane highway, listening to music, and thinking about dinner.

Off in the distance, I see a dead deer on the side of the road. I grew up in Westchester, NY; this was a common site. But even still, I never liked seeing it, deer although a pain in the ass for homeowners and drivers, are stunning creatures.

As I approached the deer, I realized something was off about its color and size.

It wasn’t a deer; it was a dog.

It must have tried crossing the highway and was struck and killed.

My heart broke. I grew up in a family that loves animals, and I stopped and petted every dog I ever saw. I thought about the family, their unanswered questions, and the closure that may elude them.

There wasn’t much I could do but feel sad. I was about a tenth of a mile past the dog when my instinct told me to look in my rearview mirror.