Soon, I’ll be joining the Kalamazoo Rotary. As part of the process, I’m invited to give a three-minute autobiography to the club. They even provide a down-to-the-second guide on the flow of the talk.
One 20-second block suggests that I speak of a short list of items, including “achievements.” This got me thinking: what achievement(s) over the past 50+ years stands out…really had an impact…still is important today. It was easy:
Forgiving those who had hurt me, beginning with myself.
Nothing that I’ve done at home, at work, or anywhere else has had such a profound and lasting effect. This cornerstone act in 2004 freed me to develop a lifestyle that encourages my health and happiness.
I accepted myself just as I was (everyday!) and set a realistic course of livingmy life (rather than improving my life); I forgave those who had hurt me and liberated myself from the stress of pent-up anger and the ugly face of bitterness.
Today, I rarely, if ever, get angry (more disappointed or frustrated); I continue to practice forgiveness with myself & others; I continue to accept myself just as I am (still everyday); I do not experience chest pains, headaches or stomach cramps (previously all-too-frequent); I never have trouble sleeping; I enjoy my work and the people involved; I give work my best effort and then let the results be what they will be. I not only enjoy life, I revere it.
All of this didn’t happen at once. I didn’t look for quick results. I had no timeline and no criteria for success or failure. My intention was then the same as it is today, to get on the path to health and happiness and stay on it the rest of my life. (more on LIFEwork Renewal).
May you find your own path.
Quote
The ultimate source of happiness is inner peace. Dalai Lama
Web
Here’s a brief article by Rick Hanson on the power of letting go (read now)
Forgiving those who had hurt me, beginning with myself.
Nothing that I’ve done at home, at work, or anywhere else has had such a profound and lasting effect. This cornerstone act in 2004 freed me to develop a lifestyle that encourages my health and happiness.
I accepted myself just as I was (everyday!) and set a realistic course of livingmy life (rather than improving my life); I forgave those who had hurt me and liberated myself from the stress of pent-up anger and the ugly face of bitterness.
Today, I rarely, if ever, get angry (more disappointed or frustrated); I continue to practice forgiveness with myself & others; I continue to accept myself just as I am (still everyday); I do not experience chest pains, headaches or stomach cramps (previously all-too-frequent); I never have trouble sleeping; I enjoy my work and the people involved; I give work my best effort and then let the results be what they will be. I not only enjoy life, I revere it.
All of this didn’t happen at once. I didn’t look for quick results. I had no timeline and no criteria for success or failure. My intention was then the same as it is today, to get on the path to health and happiness and stay on it the rest of my life. (more on LIFEwork Renewal).
May you find your own path.
Quote
The ultimate source of happiness is inner peace. Dalai Lama
Web
Here’s a brief article by Rick Hanson on the power of letting go (read now)
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