These are words spoken by the devastated wife of my friend who died suddenly and absolutely unexpectedly just four days ago, John Goldhammer. Nazarita, his wife, spoke in shocked disbelief after a sudden massive heart attack came without warning to this gentle man who was so optimistic and enthused about his life. I had just spoken to him at length the day before his death and he was in bright spirits and good humor.

John and Nazarita have been friends of mine for more than 30 years, though the chess board of life has moved us around many times to a variety of locations. In this past year, John, who wrote the wonderful book Radical Dreaming, and I have been talking on a weekly basis helping each other with our dreams. One week we worked on my dreams, the next week on his. He has been an invaluable source of strength, insight, encouragement, humor, wisdom, support and heart in my life. And in all of the time I have worked with him I can second what Nazarita said about him the morning after his death, “He never said a bad word about anybody!”

In his honor I want to challenge myself to live this way from now to forever. And I want to invite anyone else who feels inspired, to do the same. This committment can be the John Goldhammer Memorial of harmlessness, optimism, compassion and goodness.