Quotes of the Week from Me:

Quotes are thoughts. Bits of knowledge. Sometimes commands. I believe they can be questions too.

“Find something you want to wake up early for, even on a Saturday.”

“There is a generational debate about the definition of efficient innovation. What is progress? What is laziness?”

Quotes of the Week from Someone Else

“So, you aren’t from here, but you are here, and it’s lovely to have you.”

– Kind old man from my neighborhood

“The man who does more than he is paid for will soon be paid for more than he does.”

– Napoleon Hill

Quick Optimism

Older people are wise. Many of them are kind. I love thinking about how much life they have lived, and I enjoy learning from them. I keep thinking about age lately, and I think if I could make one wish, I’d choose living for a long time. I will never wish away time, but I’d like to live to see 90 (at least).

Do you ever think about it?

How long do you want to live?

What would you do with your time if you knew how much you had?

What will you do with your time not knowing how much you have?

Think about opportunity, not the inevitable end that comes later.

Quick Optimism II

I was debating whether or not to include an overused example this week. I decided to throw it in in case you haven’t seen it anywhere (I feel like it’s everywhere).

Here is my paraphrased version of the story/question:

If I told you I could give you one million dollars this morning, your reaction would be priceless. You could pay off debt, buy a few things you have wanted, go on vacation, and I hope you’d learn how to use that money to make more money.

Some of your problems might disappear instantly, and I bet you’d be in a pretty good mood. What if the catch was that after you accepted the million dollars, it was your last day on Earth? Would you still take the money?

What if it was 5 million? 10, 20, 100 million dollars? Of course, there are people fighting for their lives every single day. There is probably someone out there who is very ill and would take the money for themselves or their family. There are others who have billions of dollars already, so it would be an easier decision.

For the sake of the hypothetical, consider your reaction to the offer(s) and then your reaction to not waking up tomorrow. My guess is you’d value another day of life with family, friends, and exploring your interests over any amount of money.

Waking up is priceless.

Don’t make it deeper than it has to be. Cherish each day. 

Full Newsletter

By now you have probably recognized a pattern in my newsletters. There is a steady flow of discussion about work, parenthood, healthy habits, and interactions with other people. In no particular order, I’d say that sums up 99% of my life. But I do always come back to the interactions with other people. They happen constantly. They happen daily. They often surprise me and they rarely disappoint.

A few days ago, I ran into an elderly gentleman from down the way. He was walking up the steepest hill in our neighborhood. With his sun hat and sunglasses, he kept a slow but steady pace before pausing to offer an enthusiastic greeting. “Hello there!” he said, “Such a nice day to be outside.”

I heard the click of his hiking poles against the pavement. It was probably the fourth or fifth time that we had crossed paths and he was always nice enough to stop and talk for a bit.

“Are you new here?” he asked.

“Well, that depends.” I replied. “My wife and I grew up less than two miles away. We are from Shelburne just not this neighborhood.”

The man paused for a while. It felt like a while to me anyway. Then he said, “So, you aren’t from here, but you are here, and it’s lovely to have you. It’s nice to meet you, welcome to the neighborhood. I live down where we can see the lake from our backyard. If you ever walk by, please come inside to see the view.”

Whether or not he remembered, it was the fourth or fifth time I had received the same invite. I can’t say I enjoyed it any less, especially considering his genuine, unwavering generosity.

My elderly neighbor is kind. I wonder what kind of life he has lived. I have learned he appreciates his view of the lake and wants to share it with others. He is dedicated to climbing the steepest hill regularly, and always enjoys a few moments of friendly conversation.

Make it a memorable Monday.