Post by Pancake on Jun 21, 2004 17:16:04 GMT -5
Hey everybody
My grandmother sent me this e-mail and I wanted to share this with you.
This is how I live my life and I thank God everyday that I'm not one of those people that rushes through everything and that I am an extremely spiritual person. I thought I would pass it on so everyone would gain a little bit of perspective on life. Enjoy!
> Dr. Alan Zimmerman's Comment:
>
> Just imagine. There is a bank that credits your account each morning with
> $86,400. Day after you get another $86,400. You get to spend it any way
> you want.
>
> Now that sounds wonderful. But there is a catch. If you don't spend
your
> $86,400 on a particular day, you lose it. You can't save it or carry it
> over until the next day. It's use it or lose it -- pure and simple.
>
> In a very real sense, that's what life is like. Every day you get another
> 86,400 seconds to spend any way you like. You can spend it wisely, or you
> can waste it. It's your choice -- but your choice will make ALL the
> difference in the world.
>
> Unfortunately I find too many people who spend their time foolishly.
THEY
> WASTE THEIR TIME ON THINGS THAT AREN'T ALL THAT IMPORTANT AND END UP WITH
A
> LIFE OF REGRETS. That's what Gerald Bell found out.
>
> As a researcher at the University of North Carolina, Bell surveyed 4000
> retired executives. He asked them, "If you could live your life over,
what
> would you do differently?" The most common responses were:
>
> * Care for my health better,
> * Spend more time with my family,
> * Do more "fun" things,
> * Put greater effort into self-development activities,
> * Focus more on my spirituality, and
> * Devote more time to community service.
>
> They looked back, and they regretted the way they had spent their time.
>
> What about you? Are you guilty of spending your time on the wrong things?
> Are you putting off what you SHOULD be doing or what you really WANT to
do?
> Are you procrastinating?
>
> I remember the argument that went on in my family -- between my aunt and
> uncle and their son. They kept telling their son, "You won't amount to
> anything because you procrastinate too much." And their son would reply,
> "Just you wait."
>
> Other people aren't so much doing the wrong things as THEY ARE
SLEEPWALKING
> THROUGH LIFE. They're not quite aware of what's going on around them.
>
> I'm sure you've had the experience of driving home from work, and when
you
> got there, you didn't know "how" you got there. You didn't remember
passing
> by certain landmarks, and you didn't notice anything around you.
>
> Well some people live their whole lives that way. They sleepwalk through
> life. They get their 86,400 seconds every day, but they don't know where
> they go to. What a waste!
>
> It's like the man who had great difficulty getting to sleep at night. So
> his doctor prescribed some sleeping pills, and that night, as soon as his
> head touched the pillow, the man fell asleep.
>
> He woke feeling completely refreshed, bright, and alive. He went off to
> work with a spring in his step.
>
> Walking into the office, he told his boss, "You'll be glad to know I had
no
> trouble getting to sleep last night, and I woke up this morning even
before
> the alarm went off."
>
> "That's great," said his boss. "But where were you yesterday?"
>
> Good question. Where were you yesterday? Were you fully alive and fully
> alert -- and spending your 86,400 seconds wisely?
>
> I would suggest two guidelines to make sure you spend your time
> appropriately.
>
>
> First, UNDERSTAND THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF TIME.
>
> There's a poster that talks about this. Perhaps you've seen it, but it's
> worth repeating. "To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who
> failed a grade. To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave
> birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the
editor
> of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers
who
> are waiting to meet. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who
> missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who
just
> avoided an accident. To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the
> person who won a silver medal in the Olympics."
>
> The lesson is clear. To spend time wisely, you must first understand how
> absolutely important time is. It's one of the greatest treasures you will
> ever have, and almost everything in your life will depend on how you
handle
> this treasure.
>
> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
>
> Second, BE CAREFUL OF SAVING SOMETHING FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION. Be careful
> of putting off and putting off.
>
> After all, this is the only time you have -- for sure. You don't know
what
> the future holds. So that makes every moment special.
>
> My Grandpa Zimmerman taught me that. Nothing delighted him more than
> having all his kids and grandkids around him. So whenever we all gathered
> together, he would run to the wine cellar and pull out a bottle of wine to
> celebrate the gathering.
>
> Invariably, Grandma Em would say, "John, we're saving that bottle for a
> special occasion." And Grandpa John would reply, with tears in his eyes,
> "Em, what could be more special than having my family here?"
>
> Even though that was 40 years ago, I still remember his words, and I try
to
> live by his message. Make every moment count. Celebrate now. Don't put
> off the specialness.
>
> Ann Wells wrote about the same lesson in the "Los Angeles Times." She
> wrote about the time her brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of her
> sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said,
> "is not a slip. This is lingerie."
>
> He discarded the tissue and handed Ann the slip. It was exquisite --
silk,
> handmade, and trimmed in lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure
on
> it was still attached. "Jan," he said, bought this the first time we went
> to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was
saving
> it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."
>
> He took the slip from Ann and put it on the bed with the other clothes
they
> were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for
a
> moment, then slammed the drawer shut, turned to Ann, and said, "Don't ever
> save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special
> occasion."
>
> His words changed Ann's life, and they changed my life. Are you savoring
> every moment of life--NOW, enjoying every experience to the fullest--NOW?
> Or are you waiting for a special occasion? It's your time. Use it
wisely.
>
> As for me, I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save
anything
> that would add laughter and love -- or magic and meaning -- to my life and
> the lives of the people around me. Every day, every minute, every breath
is
> a gift from above -- and I want to use it -- rather than lose it.
>
> Action:
>
> Take an honest look at the way you use time. Are you totally content, or
do
> you feel off balance? Do you spend more time being enchanted by the
wonder
> of life, or do you spend more time just trying to get through it? Do you
> spend time, or waste time? If you don't like your answers, you can start
> changing right now. Plan out 3 little things you can do today -- and each
> day this week -- to make the day more special.
>
> Make it a great week!
> Dr. Alan Zimmerman
My grandmother sent me this e-mail and I wanted to share this with you.
This is how I live my life and I thank God everyday that I'm not one of those people that rushes through everything and that I am an extremely spiritual person. I thought I would pass it on so everyone would gain a little bit of perspective on life. Enjoy!
> Dr. Alan Zimmerman's Comment:
>
> Just imagine. There is a bank that credits your account each morning with
> $86,400. Day after you get another $86,400. You get to spend it any way
> you want.
>
> Now that sounds wonderful. But there is a catch. If you don't spend
your
> $86,400 on a particular day, you lose it. You can't save it or carry it
> over until the next day. It's use it or lose it -- pure and simple.
>
> In a very real sense, that's what life is like. Every day you get another
> 86,400 seconds to spend any way you like. You can spend it wisely, or you
> can waste it. It's your choice -- but your choice will make ALL the
> difference in the world.
>
> Unfortunately I find too many people who spend their time foolishly.
THEY
> WASTE THEIR TIME ON THINGS THAT AREN'T ALL THAT IMPORTANT AND END UP WITH
A
> LIFE OF REGRETS. That's what Gerald Bell found out.
>
> As a researcher at the University of North Carolina, Bell surveyed 4000
> retired executives. He asked them, "If you could live your life over,
what
> would you do differently?" The most common responses were:
>
> * Care for my health better,
> * Spend more time with my family,
> * Do more "fun" things,
> * Put greater effort into self-development activities,
> * Focus more on my spirituality, and
> * Devote more time to community service.
>
> They looked back, and they regretted the way they had spent their time.
>
> What about you? Are you guilty of spending your time on the wrong things?
> Are you putting off what you SHOULD be doing or what you really WANT to
do?
> Are you procrastinating?
>
> I remember the argument that went on in my family -- between my aunt and
> uncle and their son. They kept telling their son, "You won't amount to
> anything because you procrastinate too much." And their son would reply,
> "Just you wait."
>
> Other people aren't so much doing the wrong things as THEY ARE
SLEEPWALKING
> THROUGH LIFE. They're not quite aware of what's going on around them.
>
> I'm sure you've had the experience of driving home from work, and when
you
> got there, you didn't know "how" you got there. You didn't remember
passing
> by certain landmarks, and you didn't notice anything around you.
>
> Well some people live their whole lives that way. They sleepwalk through
> life. They get their 86,400 seconds every day, but they don't know where
> they go to. What a waste!
>
> It's like the man who had great difficulty getting to sleep at night. So
> his doctor prescribed some sleeping pills, and that night, as soon as his
> head touched the pillow, the man fell asleep.
>
> He woke feeling completely refreshed, bright, and alive. He went off to
> work with a spring in his step.
>
> Walking into the office, he told his boss, "You'll be glad to know I had
no
> trouble getting to sleep last night, and I woke up this morning even
before
> the alarm went off."
>
> "That's great," said his boss. "But where were you yesterday?"
>
> Good question. Where were you yesterday? Were you fully alive and fully
> alert -- and spending your 86,400 seconds wisely?
>
> I would suggest two guidelines to make sure you spend your time
> appropriately.
>
>
> First, UNDERSTAND THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF TIME.
>
> There's a poster that talks about this. Perhaps you've seen it, but it's
> worth repeating. "To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who
> failed a grade. To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave
> birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the
editor
> of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers
who
> are waiting to meet. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who
> missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who
just
> avoided an accident. To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the
> person who won a silver medal in the Olympics."
>
> The lesson is clear. To spend time wisely, you must first understand how
> absolutely important time is. It's one of the greatest treasures you will
> ever have, and almost everything in your life will depend on how you
handle
> this treasure.
>
> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
>
> Second, BE CAREFUL OF SAVING SOMETHING FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION. Be careful
> of putting off and putting off.
>
> After all, this is the only time you have -- for sure. You don't know
what
> the future holds. So that makes every moment special.
>
> My Grandpa Zimmerman taught me that. Nothing delighted him more than
> having all his kids and grandkids around him. So whenever we all gathered
> together, he would run to the wine cellar and pull out a bottle of wine to
> celebrate the gathering.
>
> Invariably, Grandma Em would say, "John, we're saving that bottle for a
> special occasion." And Grandpa John would reply, with tears in his eyes,
> "Em, what could be more special than having my family here?"
>
> Even though that was 40 years ago, I still remember his words, and I try
to
> live by his message. Make every moment count. Celebrate now. Don't put
> off the specialness.
>
> Ann Wells wrote about the same lesson in the "Los Angeles Times." She
> wrote about the time her brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of her
> sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package. "This," he said,
> "is not a slip. This is lingerie."
>
> He discarded the tissue and handed Ann the slip. It was exquisite --
silk,
> handmade, and trimmed in lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure
on
> it was still attached. "Jan," he said, bought this the first time we went
> to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was
saving
> it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."
>
> He took the slip from Ann and put it on the bed with the other clothes
they
> were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for
a
> moment, then slammed the drawer shut, turned to Ann, and said, "Don't ever
> save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special
> occasion."
>
> His words changed Ann's life, and they changed my life. Are you savoring
> every moment of life--NOW, enjoying every experience to the fullest--NOW?
> Or are you waiting for a special occasion? It's your time. Use it
wisely.
>
> As for me, I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save
anything
> that would add laughter and love -- or magic and meaning -- to my life and
> the lives of the people around me. Every day, every minute, every breath
is
> a gift from above -- and I want to use it -- rather than lose it.
>
> Action:
>
> Take an honest look at the way you use time. Are you totally content, or
do
> you feel off balance? Do you spend more time being enchanted by the
wonder
> of life, or do you spend more time just trying to get through it? Do you
> spend time, or waste time? If you don't like your answers, you can start
> changing right now. Plan out 3 little things you can do today -- and each
> day this week -- to make the day more special.
>
> Make it a great week!
> Dr. Alan Zimmerman