Life Is Too Short
Life Is Too Short
Life Is Too Short
Drop The Ego And Show Some Kindness Today
by Michael D. Hume, M.S.
Today the weather is absolutely perfect here at my Colorado home. If I had my way, I'd spend the whole day outside, shooting hoops, jogging, hiking, whatever. But last night I came down with some bug that's sapping my energy and keeping me close to the bathroom. I'm sure I'll feel better in a couple of days, but a storm is due here tomorrow, and this is most likely the last beautiful day of sunshine for this week.
So the opportunity to play in the sunshine that this day brings will be lost.
This reminds me of how short life is. Today I'm only losing a chance to go outside and play... but what other, more important opportunities have I missed over the long years of my life? I can't sit around and feel regretful - people get sick every now and then - but any missed opportunity should serve as a reminder to each of us that our lives bring us only so many chances.
I'm sure I won't lie on my death bed (hopefully years from now) and bemoan the opportunities I missed to shoot hoops. But I might regret some of the other opportunities I missed, and it's likely that the most prominent regret will be the opportunities I missed to make other peoples' lives better and happier.
I'm a pretty good person, and I'm always looking for acts of kindness to perpetrate. It's probably just selfishness on my part, because I love the feeling I get when I know I've done something good for someone else. But what has prevented me - indeed, what prevents any of us - from doing more of that? What keeps you from picking up the phone to call a relative you haven't talked to for too long, or to go say you're sorry to someone to whom you owe an apology, or to send that check in to your favorite charity? We'll often tell ourselves we just haven't had the time, but the truth is we neglect those things because we've prioritized other things. And if you're like many of the folks I've coached over the years, it's often your ego that gets in the way of your better intentions.
Think of one kindness you can do today. Here are some ideas.
If it's been more than a few days since you've talked to someone in your family (a parent, a grandparent, or a sibling), pick up the phone and call 'em!
Get some thank-you cards and hand them out to uniformed U.S. military personnel you see in public places, like airports. They deserve some thanks for their service and sacrifices.
If you own your own business, why not go the extra mile for one of your employees or customers today? A little appreciation can go a long way.
If your spouse is struggling with his weight, don't nag him to go on a diet. You do it. Even if you don't need to lose weight, you can do a lot for your significant other (in a nice way) by simply leading by example.
You are lucky if you have more money than you need (especially given the current global conspiracy against wealth). Give some away! There are countless charitable organizations out there doing good work that could use a few of your bucks. As an alternative, find a family who's hard-up and find a way to give them an anonymous gift. The more creative you are, the better you'll feel about it.
You don't have to be a saint. But If you want to avoid later regret, you need to put your ego aside occasionally, Do enough kindnesses to confirm for yourself that you are the person you always intended to be.
By the way... I'm heading back to my Palm Springs home at the end of the week. I'm very blessed. I'll get other chances to play in the sunshine!
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