Lessons From Mom And A Life Well Lived

I went to the nursing home yesterday to visit my Mom. My Mom is Russian, my Dad Belgium. Mom is 86. After surviving WWII and working for the United Nations finding homes for refuges, they moved to Canada. Then after a few years they adopted my brother and then me a few years later at 24 months old.

Now, after living in the same house for over fifty years she is in a nursing home. I did not have a particularly warm and openly loving relationship with my parents. It was a strict household and even my friends were afraid of my mom with her heavy Russian accent and piercing dark look. The most important lesson I figured out later in life is that my parents cared an awful lot. They had their own way of showing love. Sometimes we get frustrated with our parents and their unreasonable rules and push for us to conform to society’s standards. But all they really wanted for me was to have a good life and grow up to be a good man. I think they succeeded.

Now I am putting a few things aside to help my Dad look after Mom. I am making sure that the orderlies follow her eating habits. I asked them to put the table and chairs in her room that are missing. I visit as much as possible. My Dad thinks that I can be a bit demanding. I can, but in a nice way.

A nursing home is not a good way for someone to live out their final days. They are away from their home, family and pets. But this is the best care we can find at the moment. My Dad cannot look after her 24/7. We do not know how much longer she has on this earth. I thought she would be gone after a few phone calls I received these past months. Some days it’s really hard to think about life and the end.

Now I put away a few of my own needs and concentrate on my families. I will not accept anything less than the best care for my Mom.

I think back to my childhood and the huge backyard garden, fresh veggies and fruit, home cooked meals every day, my bed done every morning and my Dad helping me out financially in my younger years. I think back to our picnics by the lake and my Mom and I listening to one of my Dads million stories.

I was one of the lucky ones in life. I’ve had parents that lived through frightening times, understood sacrifice, discipline and dished out tough love. I’m tougher for it.

I’m off to the nursing home now. I will see if she ate breakfast, if she is comfortable. If she is sleeping I will just sit beside her and chat with my Dad.

This isn’t a sad story or ending. It is a story about life. It is filled with many extraordinary memories. It is about a life well lived. It is about two people that came to another country after a terrible war, adopted two sons and loved life and loved them the best way they could.

I’m incredibly lucky to have been a part of it.

If you enjoyed this post today, please do me a big favor and use the “Twitter” button down below (click on the + sign) to share it with your Twitter friends and followers (You can also share it on Facebook, Digg, or any of the other sites you see below as well).

How To Be Happy And Create A Lifetime Of Joy With Your Memories

Just came back from Ogunquit, Maine. I love it there. I love the quiet beach, eating fresh seafood, breathing in the crisp ocean air and talking amazing walks. Why though? The reason is that I have such warm memories of this place. And my memories tell me a story even before I walk on the beach. My future and the joy I find are largely due to my anticipation based on my memories.

I saw a whale come out of the water a few days ago and that tied in to my memory of seeing dolphin’s many years ago in Wildwood.

These memories and the anticipation that comes with them will last me a lifetime.

I’ve written about living in the now and experiencing the present moment many times. During these times I feel contentment but not necessarily joy.

Joy I find comes from remembering the incredible beauty in the stories of my life. I may have experienced stunning beauty on multiple cliffs or felt the peace and quiet of a hot summer day. I have heard the sound of waves lapping on a shore in many places. These extraordinary memories never get old.

When I think about any of these memories of my life I am truly happy and even joyful at times.

Forget about buying stuff, go out and create a lifetime of wonderful memories. That is what true joy and happiness is all about.

If you enjoyed this post today, please do me a big favor and use the “Twitter” button down below (click on the + sign) to share it with your Twitter friends and followers (You can also share it on Facebook, Digg, or any of the other sites you see below as well).

5 Reasons Why The Grass May Not Be Greener

Every day I hear someone daydream about changing jobs or companies. It’s incredibly easy to dream. I’ve made three major career changes and changed companies five times. Here are the top 5 lessons I learnt.

Money isn’t everything (but it can help). If you accept a job that earns you ten or twenty thousand dollars more a year, but adds another hour or two of a lonely and miserable commute, are you really ahead? Has your quality of life improved? Those dreadful and polluted hours sucking on someone’s tailpipe are never regained. You can’t call on the traffic fairy and magically have time turned back. Those hours are lost forever. Being stuck in traffic is the biggest stressors in people’s lives. Is your time more important than money?

Be prepared to have a boss that you may loathe. Sure it may be great fun to have your dream job, but when your new boss goes on to bigger and better things, you may be stuck with the company clown as your glorious leader. Now your wonderful new job is a horrific nightmare as each hour your new boss finds fresh ways to torture you. Not so much of a dream anymore huh?

Ready to give up the perks that come with company seniority? I lost three wonderful weeks of vacation time changing companies once. Are you willing to lose your vacation time? Not only will you work more but you have to cover for your co-workers that have more seniority.

Are you able to ignore company politics? Every company has clicks, favoritism and certain unappealing dynamics which may make you wound up over time. I’ve heard whispered plans and dreadful lies spread about me because certain people wanted their friend to be hired. Are you ready to ignore all that and focus on the job itself? Or will you transform into the office tittle-tattle and gleefully buy your boss a Starbucks latte each morning?

You decided to start your own business. Do you think that being an entrepreneur is all about giving yourself a fancy title and working from home in your shorts while the money pours in? It isn’t. Starting a business takes guts, hard work and persistence.

There you have it.

• Make sure your commute doesn’t kill you over time.
• Avoid working for the company clown.
• Think hard about your seniority perks.
• Get ready to ignore office politics.
• Figure out if you have the courage to become a successful entrepreneur.

If you enjoyed this post today, please do me a big favor and use the “Twitter” button down below (click on the + sign) to share it with your Twitter friends and followers (You can also share it on Facebook, Digg, or any of the other sites you see below as well).

Related Posts:

How To Start An Internet Business

The Myth Of Finding The Perfectly Balanced Life

Successful Small Business - The Top Three Requirements

Goal Setting And Value Identification Lead To More Meaning And Purpose

Stop Complaining, Whining Or Making Lame Excuses And Start Living

I have been working incredibly hard to make meaningful life changes for years. I have changed my fundamental relationship with money (I wanted to be a millionaire by 30).I have settled into two challenging careers and am content with both. I have struggled with back issues but have more or less come to terms with this. I’ve tried to build deeper and more loving ties with family and friends.

We all have life changes we want to make. The biggest life change I’ve made BY FAR is to appreciate the fact that I’ve been given the privilege to live on this blue planet, which slowly twirls around in the middle of an infinite universe. Every single day I think about this. Everything else is insignificant. Lots of money, a powerful career or fame will not bring you a deep joy or heartfelt appreciation. If you think they will you are either incredibly ignorant or our consumer driven society has continued to suck you in and spit you out.

Go take a look up at the sky. It’s going to rain whether you like it. It WILL be cloudy some days (unless you live in Arizona). There is absolutely no point in wishing otherwise. You are just wasting energy and your time hoping for a change that is beyond your control. Learn to enjoy the day and whatever the planet serves up.

The sun will rise and it will set (it only hides behind the clouds). This has not changed since the beginning of time. Enjoy this day because you will never, ever see it again. It is May 09 2010 today. At midnight this day will have passed….forever. Are you going to enjoy it? Or are you going to spend time complaining, whining or making lame excuses?

Sometimes I sit in traffic and fume after some asshole that has cut me off. If he is driving a big Mercedes SUV I may get judgmental and hope something bad happens to him…or her. But in the end these silly incidents don’t matter. I just let it go. What really matters is that I’ve been born onto this beautiful planet and have had a few years to share it with many extraordinary living beings. And even though we are seriously fucking it up with oil spills and raping the forests, I’m eternally grateful for my time here.

I look out at the sky from my car window. I picture this magnificent blue planet circling the sun with a trillion stars winking all around. I remember how damn lucky I am to experience this miracle surrounding me. I feel a deep felt joy. I hope you learn to as well.

Make a life change to enjoy every waking moment you have here. It won’t cost you a cent.

If you enjoyed this post today, please do me a big favor and use the “Twitter” button down below (click on the + sign) to share it with your Twitter friends and followers (You can also share it on Facebook, Digg, or any of the other sites you see below as well).

Related posts:

Choose To Be Happy

Lead A More Meaningful, Peaceful And Happy Life

5 Of The Best Self Development Books

• The Unthethered Soul – the journey beyond yourself.

I discovered this book while reading an article on what some of the worlds Billionaires were reading. This is the best book I’ve read on living in the moment, letting go of useless chatter, opening your heart and channeling positive energy.

• The Millionaire Next Door

One of my favourite best books how to become wealthy. This book is based on facts not fiction. Read more about it here.

• The Pursuit Of Happiness

This is one of my all time favorite books on the subject of Happiness. Another great book backed by facts and excellent research. I wrote a review about it at Amazon.

• The Evolving Self

This book made me begin to think I could help change the world. It was a major influence on my life and how I viewed the world. This book is real eye opener.

• The Mandela Of Being

Another fabulous book on living in the present moment. Once we understand the power of our consciousness the sky is the limit. We discover a peace and joy and let go of living with “me“, “you“, “future“ and the “past“ Also discover gratitude, stillness and presence.

Do you have any favorites?

If you enjoyed this post today, please do me a big favor and use the “Twitter” button down below (click on the + sign) to share it with your Twitter friends and followers (You can also share it on Facebook, Digg, or any of the other sites you see below as well).