What if you died tomorrow? What if today is the last day of your life? How would that change things for you?
These questions have hung in my mind for several weeks. I read The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch. When he discovered he had terminal cancer, Randy's life changed dramatically. Yet in other ways, he simply continued as he always had - a giving, caring individual who actively sought ways to contribute to society and live a good life. He just looked for more opportunities to live the best life he could.
Reading Randy's thoughts on dying, and living, reminded me of a lesson from years ago. In his international best-seller, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman relates an extremely important thought: There are no ordinary moments.
Every minute of every day is a gift. Every minute wasted, or spent on something negative, is a moment you cannot retrieve. Both Pausch and Millman are telling us to make the most out of every minute of every day. They're telling us that, in order to get more out of life, we have to give all way have, all the time.
Whether you are at work, at play or at rest, immersing yourself in the activity will produce greater results. When interacting with others, be it your family, friends, coworkers, or strangers, giving your best enhances the experience. Even if all you are doing is having an ice cream cone, focusing on that sweet, cold refreshment will add to your enjoyment.
As I wrote of the ice cream cone above, an old memory popped to mind. I don't remember the comedian as it was many years ago, but I remember the last part of his skit. He talked about eating cookies, and how we often don't really enjoy them as much as we could. He talked about how much more delicious the last cookie in the package tastes. Then he went into a whole spiel about not realizing he was eating the last cookie, how he missed the entire experience because of his lack of awareness. He then ended by saying that, from then on, he ate every cookie as if it was his last, and urged the audience to do the same.
If it works for cookies, why not everything else? Enjoy the movie as if it were the last one you'll ever see. Enjoy making dinner with your family because it's the last food you'll ever have. Mow the lawn as if it were a testament to your dedication to your family. Enjoy every sunrise and every sunset, and everything between the two.
Everything we do is enhanced by careful attention, and by infusing the activity with love and compassion. Everyone we meet is better served when we bring our full attention to bear, and the best of ourselves into the interaction. Fill your days with productive work, compassionate service and joyful play and companionship, and you will enrich your life beyond measure.
Living every day as if you're dying is an excellent way to life a life with Spirit.
In peace,
Lane
These questions have hung in my mind for several weeks. I read The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch. When he discovered he had terminal cancer, Randy's life changed dramatically. Yet in other ways, he simply continued as he always had - a giving, caring individual who actively sought ways to contribute to society and live a good life. He just looked for more opportunities to live the best life he could.
Reading Randy's thoughts on dying, and living, reminded me of a lesson from years ago. In his international best-seller, Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman relates an extremely important thought: There are no ordinary moments.
Every minute of every day is a gift. Every minute wasted, or spent on something negative, is a moment you cannot retrieve. Both Pausch and Millman are telling us to make the most out of every minute of every day. They're telling us that, in order to get more out of life, we have to give all way have, all the time.
Whether you are at work, at play or at rest, immersing yourself in the activity will produce greater results. When interacting with others, be it your family, friends, coworkers, or strangers, giving your best enhances the experience. Even if all you are doing is having an ice cream cone, focusing on that sweet, cold refreshment will add to your enjoyment.
As I wrote of the ice cream cone above, an old memory popped to mind. I don't remember the comedian as it was many years ago, but I remember the last part of his skit. He talked about eating cookies, and how we often don't really enjoy them as much as we could. He talked about how much more delicious the last cookie in the package tastes. Then he went into a whole spiel about not realizing he was eating the last cookie, how he missed the entire experience because of his lack of awareness. He then ended by saying that, from then on, he ate every cookie as if it was his last, and urged the audience to do the same.
If it works for cookies, why not everything else? Enjoy the movie as if it were the last one you'll ever see. Enjoy making dinner with your family because it's the last food you'll ever have. Mow the lawn as if it were a testament to your dedication to your family. Enjoy every sunrise and every sunset, and everything between the two.
Everything we do is enhanced by careful attention, and by infusing the activity with love and compassion. Everyone we meet is better served when we bring our full attention to bear, and the best of ourselves into the interaction. Fill your days with productive work, compassionate service and joyful play and companionship, and you will enrich your life beyond measure.
Living every day as if you're dying is an excellent way to life a life with Spirit.
In peace,
Lane
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