As I am now just one day away from my 57th birthday, I thought this would be a good time to create this blog post. I sent an email blast about this topic a month ago, but want to also keep it as an enduring blog. Please feel free to comment.
I thought I'd share with you the thing that drives me (or perhaps, pulls me forward). Years ago, I created for myself a personal mission, which
includes my personal philosophy. And I encourage each of you to take time to create your own. It can take hours, days, or weeks, but it is something that you should continually revise as you gain experience over the years. A personal mission and philosophy is like a personal Declaration of Independence and Constitution - Your foundation and your raison d'etre. My philosophy and mission are what I center each day upon, and it is the reason I have overflowing happiness and purpose. I have no plans of ever retiring, because what I do IS my life -- That is: learning, teaching, and making a positive impact on others. Each
morning and evening, I reflect on my statement. With all that said, here is the preamble:
***
Many people will wake up for the last time tomorrow. They will go through their normal routine, have breakfast, head out for work, and get into a fatal car accident, or have a fatal cardiac event. They will have had no idea what was going to happen. I live every day as if it could be my last, because one day it will be. And yet, I fully expect to live "70 more years", because I CHOOSE to make my health a priority EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. And because I am convinced (just as are the majority of neuroscientists, biologists, physicists, and philosophers) that this is the only life we get, my time and my relationships are very precious to me. I don't waste time with negativity or destructive anxiety, but I instead focus my energy, as best I can, on enjoying life with my loved ones, serving others in my best capacity, and continually working on myself so that my "best capacity" steadily improves.
***
"For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson