Dain Zaffke endured a one-in-a-million type of cancer, a lost lung, six rounds of aggressive chemo, and a paralyzed vocal cord. But it wasn’t until Dain’s doctor told him he had three months left to live that he experienced a profound shift in perspective. Two years later, Dain is living cancer-free, yet hasn’t forgotten the deepest lesson from that trauma: to prioritize family, friends, and the things that bring him joy.

His story serves as a rallying cry to the world—particularly those of us in fast-paced, high-pressure careers—to slow down and appreciate the beauty of our natural world.