What Would YOU Do If...?

Good Morning!

Today is a bit different...why?

Because...I asked myself...

What if this was the last blog that I wrote...?

What if this was the last chance that I had to tell you what I thought was important...?

So let me begin with one of my favorite songs...

Please listen to it...perhaps twice or three times...

Take in every "cliche"

This will help set the stage for my message today...

Humor me!




If today was your last day...or the other person's last day...

What would you say...what would you do?

Many people that I have asked lately...responded with, "I would be doing exactly what I am doing..."

If you knew for sure that today was your last day on earth...would you be at work?

Would you be sitting and reading this blog?

What would you tell the world?

What would you tell your loved ones?

What would tell your friends?

What would you tell those who hurt you?

How would your life be different?

Why am I focusing on such a depressing series of thoughts?

Emphasizing the "finality" of our words and actions should bring to the forefront an assessment of the value of each...

The trivial quickly falls off the "To Do" list when our future disappears...

Ask yourself..."If today was my last day...what?"

Enough Said!

************************************

Another thing to consider...

Where are you going?

I have had an interesting discussion with the kids over the past couple of days...

It started when someone in the oncoming traffic lane...was sitting and beeping their horn...

The kids remembered a study that I did (sometime back) that showed an inverse relationship between the the frequency of horn blowing and the emotional and intellectual maturity of the horn blower!  That means that frequent horn blowers are less emotionally mature and intelligent than non-horn blowers...

Whether it is valid or not is not the point...it is just an interesting little thought...that makes me smile whenever I hear someone beep their horn!

As we discussed horn blowing...we decided that if you have to blow your horn...the value to society must be greater than the disruption that is causes...because horns are distracting and can themselves cause problems...

The discussion shifted a bit into..."What is worth fighting for?"

Our "founders" grasped that concept...and we have forgotten about it!  They said that there are three things worth fighting for..."Life...Liberty...and the Pursuit of Happiness..."  All else pales in comparison or is simply not worth it...

Think about that...the only time one should become angry is when their life is threatened...their freedom is unjustly infringed upon...or that their happiness or the pursuit thereof is minimized!

Anything else...is not worth getting angry over!

There is no value...

Then our discussion went to what we "talk" about...as with horn blowing...our speech must be tempered!

If what you say...does not promote Life, Liberty...or the Pursuit of your own or another's happiness...you have to question whether it is worth saying!

This cool stuff from the mouths and minds of babes...and from a horn blast in the opposite lane!

AS we talked...we decided that we do not rise (after a restful sleep) and decide to be angry...We love and pursue being happy!

So when we get angry...It takes away from the total happiness that we have left...

I do not want to die angry...

What if today was my last day?

What if today was your last day?

Die happy...or die angry?

Choose and use your words wisely!

That is the sign of a good leader!

Step up and promote...LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Those are worth shouting from the mountain tops and also worth fighting for!

They were true nearly 300 years ago...and still are!

So.....

Where are you going?

What will you be next year at this time?

What are you doing to ensure that you will arrive there unscathed?

Will that make you truly happy?

An interesting thing about what the founders noted as important...none of them had to do with today!  Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are all future oriented!  Did you realize that?

We have to live today as if it were our last...ensuring that those three concepts are NEVER compromised!

That is our promise for the future and for future generations...

Enough Said...AGAIN!

Speaking of future generations...

What is our obligation to our future generations...beyond life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

I have not answered my question on what I would tell you...if today was my last day...

Here is my answer...

 Desiderata  (Latin for "Desired things")

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

That is what I would tell you!

AND I am not just blowing my horn!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY by telling a friend how important they are to you...

Have a great weekend!

Pura Vida!