Famed motivational speaker Les Brown once said, “We have to live life with a sense of urgency so not a minute is wasted.”
All too often, many of us ignore that mantra, taking each day for granted, moving ever so slowly on our agenda for the day, week, month or year. Just as problematic, many of us spend our time in idle chatter, decrying promptness, seemingly content to do just enough to get by.
At our best, we operate on cruise control as we proceed to the next stop along our journey. Truth be told, many of us may find ourselves annoyed should someone gently ask us to get excited about life, put some pep in our step and keep things moving. We put off until tomorrow what we could easily do today, all the while taking a raincheck on life.
By contrast, many have not just heard Brown’s exhortation, they personify it. These achievers — often overachievers — epitomize Brown’s counsel: they live life to the fullest, they move with a sense of urgency and purpose. These shining stars have an agenda. They are on a mission. They seek to show others the way to success—hard work, discipline, determination, and dedication.
These unique individuals are strategic about life. They travel through this journey as visionaries, luminaries, problem-solvers, doers and believers.
We know these individuals by the trail of their flight patterns. They leave their mark, clearly visible to others. They ascend to optimal heights in record time, leaving their mark of having “been there, done that,” wherever they go.
Austin McWhite was one of those individuals who understood the gift and beauty of life. He appeared to have an inner voice encouraging and motivating him to live life with a sense of urgency so not a minute was wasted in 23 years of experiences. With the support of his loving parents and family, Austin mapped out an action plan for his life and set a flight plan — literally and figuratively — for success.
As Austin said, “If you want to be king, you’ve got to work your way to the top.” And work he did: honor graduate from Orange County Public Schools, recipient of the Wekiva High School MVP award in baseball, recipient of a full scholarship to the University of Dubuque, Iowa, to major in aviation, recipient of his pilot’s license before turning 20, commissioned as second lieutenant in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Those who knew him marveled at his accomplishments. His parents beamed with pride at each of Austin’s new performances, feats and deeds. Yes, they provided many runways for him to take flight, but they credited him with maximizing each of those opportunities for takeoff.
Unexpectedly, though, and shortly after celebrating his 23rd birthday with his family, a tragic motorcycle accident claimed Austin’s life on July 16, 2018. The wunderkind transformed into a fallen soldier.
But his family would not be defeated nor cheated by death. Instead, they did what Austin would surely have wanted them to do — celebrate his life and legacy. Through the tears of ever-present grief, the smiles of loving memories, and a cadre of incomparable remembrances, Austin’s family carries on in his name through the Austin McWhite Foundation. Given Austin’s love of aviation and flight, the foundation seeks to bring Austin’s words to fruition, “Let your dreams take flight.” So many of his dreams became reality. The foundation’s stated goal is to “help deserving minorities achieve their aviation career goal.”
To his mother, his father, his sister, and a host of family and friends who knew and loved him, Les Brown’s mantra — “We have to live life with a sense of urgency so not a minute is wasted” — was undeniably clear. Austin heeded his inner voice, appreciated each day, and lived his life with a sense of urgency so not a minute was wasted.
Marking that truism with an exclamation point, The Austin McWhite Foundation shares these words for all to consider: “Austin’s life taught the world that you can’t do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about the depth and fullness of the life that you live.”
Ruby Evans is a friend of the McWhite family and works with Austin’s mother, Sha’ron Cooley McWhite, at Orange County Public Schools.