Thanks to Lance at The Jungle of Life for his Sunday thought for the day today. It sums up my feelings about life perfectly. Nine years ago when my heart stopped the first time, I became very clear about what was important to me and what wasn’t. Of course, over the years, circumstances changed and that clarity dimmed a little (OK, it dimmed more than a little). Last month, when it stopped again, that clarity returned very quickly.
As a result, I let go of my second job and vowed to make my life my focus, not how to pay the bills and keep everyone else happy.
Here’s the quote:
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart…. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” ~ Steve Jobs
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi! Saw you at Lance’s and have to admit the title of your blog post lured me over, haha! That is some quote isn’t it? Your personal experience, similar to mine, probably provided the jolt for each of us to wake up and start living life instead of life living us? I know in my case it was a blessing indeed. I’m wondering if more people should have a death knock come along and scare them into realizing how really fantastic life is!???
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Hi Sherrie,
Reading this, and about how you have truly lived this – this idea of an encounter close to death – I’m sure that even more puts life into perspective. It is about focusing on what provides meaning to our lives, isn’t it. Thanks for sharing a part of your story…
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