Whoops….silly me, no Extreme Makeover Weight Loss this week. I didn’t miss it at all, as it was pre-empted by the Heat game (which we will remember the Heat won!) Last week we lost a couple of our gym “family” members, both taken from us way too soon. This morning, I offer this beautiful piece, thanks to Ursula. I hope you will give it some thought as you travel through your day.
Live a Life that Matters
Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected whether treasures or baubles, will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear. So, too your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter where you came from or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.
It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success, but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many people will feel a lasting loss, when you’re gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance, but choice.
***If anyone needs a home address to send cards to Gary Naftaniel or Judy Ablack, I have them….May Sydelle and Abe both rest peacefully…
Although I did not know Sydelle or Abe, my heartfelt sympathy is extended to both families and friends. The tribute that you posted, Bonni, was very touching. It brought tears to my tears and the thoughts definitely resounded in my head. Thank you Ursula for sharing this every special message. I put a copy of it in my files so that I can revisit it again.
Amazingly well said and definitely the truth. Too bad not too many others feel that way about life or voice it.