It has been said that one moment can change your life. An unexpected event can turn your world upside down…or right side up. Sometimes a moment will cause you to pause and reflect, while others have the power to take your breath away. And some moments are so big that they change the course of your life, forever.

However, the interesting thing about a moment is that by definition, it is recognized as a period of time that stands out from the rest. It is by its very nature “different”. As a result, a moment has staying power, that resonates louder and penetrates deeper. A moment is frozen in picture perfect clarity to be revisited in an instant, by simply looking back. Moments chronicle the times of our lives.

Now imagine a student showing up to school one day after he was told by his/her parents that they were going to divorce, only to be ridiculed or harassed by another student in the hall. A tough day, a defining moment, has been made worse as his/her disappointment and sense of loss is now forever coupled with the disrespect of another student. The irony is with the student doing the harassing as he/she routinely does, by trying to be clever, tell a joke or make his friends laugh. If defining moments are possible, then shouldn’t we live our lives making sure that if someone is having a tough time, we do not make it worse? Being unaware of other’s circumstances or events does not give us permission to do or say as we please. These situations readily take place, so perhaps we need to ask the question, “How are you living your life…between the moments”? If defining moments have the ability to shape your integrity, then perhaps the time between the moments is designed to shape your character.

Stu Cabes’ keynote Defining Moments is a rich and introspective look into the way we live our lives between the moments. Stu asks his listeners to understand that as we interact with the world, defining moments are happening all around us. What may be a typical day or routine for one person could be a day of infinite change of direction for another.

Stu challenges his audience to ask:

"Can you affect another’s defining moment through your interaction with them while it is taking place”?

Stu also points out that between those moments lie the events of our day to day lives; our routines, our schedules, our relationships, and most importantly, our interaction with the world around us. How we communicate, who we hang out with and what we regularly say or do are far more revealing indicators of who we are and what we stand for, than perhaps the moment itself. The times between the moments are what define our character and reveal our true personality. Stu argues that the way we practice living our lives between the moments prepares us for the moments themselves, and perhaps those very routines serve as guide posts in charting the way to clarity or resolve. Stu also suggests that if you practice routines that are ultimately negative and unproductive, hurting you and those around you, the journey through each personal moment may be more difficult or long lasting.

Ultimately, Stu leaves the audience feeling uplifted and motivated to not only appreciate each moment in their lives but also become aware of how we live our lives between the moments, while sharing our journey with those around us.