My nine life lessons

This is a bit different from the typical topics in my article.

I recently wrote a book on what I call “good enough satisfaction.” It is an allegory about a man in his forties who is not happy with his life. After a magical train ride, learn to define what satisfaction means in nine areas of your life: career, family, health, friendships, finances, leisure, spirituality, generosity, and legacy. Writing the story reminded me of my own life: the things I did well and the many mistakes I made. It inspired me to write about nine nuggets that I wish I could go back in time to tell my younger self. Some would have done the same again, others radically different. However, it is worth putting everything in writing to stimulate your thinking about the things you need to start, stop, or continue.

Are here:

Career: Your career cannot replace family, health, leisure and friendships – In the movie The family manThe character of Nicholas Cage is a inveterate investment banker who gets to see what his life would have been like as a middle-class husband and father. He realizes that life is much more than a business. Of course, continue to vigorously pursue your career aspirations, but not at the expense of other important areas of your life.

Family: don’t waste the memories – My father worked very hard as a baker; So much so that he missed many family events. In his later years he told me how he regretted missing so many events and milestones with my five siblings and me. Don’t look back on your life regretting not being there for the memory makers.

Health: If you do not decide to take care of yourself, the decision will be made for you: I had an emotional breakdown in my 30s due to misbehaving both mentally and physically. I thought I could keep pushing and get on with it. Incorrect. I had no choice but to stop and make some changes to regain my health. If you don’t focus on taking care of your health, something beyond your control will happen that forces you to act.

Friendships: Have a couple of friends help you at 2am, no questions asked – I was recently on vacation when a tenant of our rental property called me and said that the washing machine was not working. It was 3,000 miles away and I couldn’t get there, so I called a dear friend who was in the rental in 30 minutes and fixed the problem. Having a couple of close friends that you can trust to help you get out of a tight spot is worth gold. Being someone your friend can trust is just as important.

Finances: nobody cares more about your finances than you – When I graduated from college, I bought three books on investing. Those books formed the foundation of my investment discipline. Sometimes, however, I let others who did not have my best interests at heart manage the investments on my behalf. Now I manage every dollar myself and keep up with investment strategies. Putting your money in the hands of a paid advisor will ensure that the bread gets on your table along with your money. Do as much of this as you can on your own.

Leisure: Work-life balance means slowing down, not speeding up – I have met too many people who worked more than 60 hours during the week just to crowd the activities of “life” on the weekend. They had a work-life balance, but they did it by running 100 miles per hour. Free time should include time to relax and recharge, so use at least part of it to rest and be careful not to try to include too much in your life.

Spirituality: follow the example of your beliefs – Whatever your spiritual beliefs (mine are Christian), don’t be a Jekyll and Hyde in what you say and do. Cursing a storm in meetings during the workweek and then going to church on Sunday just doesn’t add up. It is not about judging your belief system; it’s more about making sure your actions align with your beliefs.

Giving: Giving out of love, not out of convenience or obligation. – My son loves to cook. He regularly volunteers to cook and deliver meals to families in need. She loves to give her time and money to help families who need a hot meal enjoy their cooking. The amount and type of donation is up to you, just do it with love and enjoy the gratification you receive in return.

Legacy – live your praise – Some years ago I created a statement of personal purpose. After much introspection, it occurred to me: I will work to help others to help themselves and not simply to train them. When I die, I want people to say three words at my funeral: He helped me. If you have a personal purpose or mission statement, live it. If you don’t have one, a book like The Purpose Driven Life might be helpful.

My hope is that you, my readers, can draw something from my nine life lessons. If I help you do or think differently about some aspect of your life, then mission accomplished. Thank you for helping me fulfill my statement of purpose. Oh, and if you want to see the book I wrote, go here.