How to Start to Die Slowly

In This Issue:

• A loss

• How to die slowly

• That's Neat

• On the Nightstand

• In case you missed SDC3G Challenge.  

• Where in the world is Steph?

"Good night, sleep tight and don't let the beg bugs bite!" (always my goodnight from Auntie Rose)

If you ever think of me when you make a choice to use the stairs - then you have heard the inspiring story of my Auntie Rose. 

This amazing woman passed away this month at 105 years-of-age. She was single her whole life, had no children and was a career woman before that was 'a thing'.  She was a wonderful aunt to me and special great-aunt to my kids and made us all feel special and loved with just old-fashioned phone calls, visits and snail mail.

One of her greatest fears was being forgotten; 'don't forget about me' she would often say as we lived so far apart and I would assure her that would be impossible. She will never know how many thousands of people she inspired by keeping her kitchen utensils in the basement 'to ensure she would go down the stairs at least 4 times a day'.  Stairs were never the same to me after that day. 

She walked everywhere - not to save gas or keep fit, but because she wanted to. She ate only when she was hungry and stopped when she was satisfied; not to keep her figure, but because she had had enough. She gardened - not because research told her it was good for her emotional well-being; she did it because she enjoyed it. On and on I could go about how she led a great example of living a good life.

Auntie Rose lived fully with purpose and love and so, when I ran across this poem called You start dying slowly, I thought this would be a lovely way to remind us all to live this gift we call life - well. 

You start dying slowly

If you do not travel,

If you do not read,

If you do not listen to the sounds of life,

If you do not appreciate yourself.

 

You start dying slowly:

When you kill your self-esteem,

When you do not let others help you.

 

You start dying slowly:

If you become a slave to your habits,

Walking every day on the same paths…

If you do not change your routine,

If you do not wear different colors,

Or speak to those you don’t know.

 

You start dying slowly:

If you avoid feeling passion

And their turbulent emotions—

Those that make your eyes glisten

And your heart beat fast.

 

You start dying slowly:

If you do not risk the safe for the uncertain,

If you do not chase a dream,

If you do not allow yourself,

At least once in your lifetime,

To run away from sensible advice.

 

Don't let yourself die slowly.

Do not forget to be happy!  

~ Pablo Neruda

(Chilean poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971)

 Maybe not every line in the poem rings true for you, but perhaps writing our own version of the poem will give us clarity for our own lives. 

Sometimes when we don't know what we want, listing what we don't want is helpful. I think Pablo's poem does a fine job of that. 

 Here's my version... 

I start to die slowly when

I am alone for too long

I am away from the people I love

And those who love me 

 

I start to die slowly when

The trees and the ocean are far from reach

When I don't walk or ride or dance

When I am stagnant

 

I start to die slowly when

There is no laughter

When I witness anger and hate

And injustice

 

I start to die slowly when

I am not kind and helpful

And others are mean

And when I lose hope

 

I start to die slowly when

Things are the same for too long

When I don't create

When I don't make time for fun

 

I start to die slowly when

I expect too much

I forgot how blessed I am

When I take things for granted

 

And so, I choose to live fully 

As much as I can

For as long as I can

Now...your life, your version, your plan...

 Your turn to write (or maybe think about your own version)!  

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That's Neat - Can't jet away on that vacation just yet? Maybe this will help - take a moment to literally look around the world with these cool, live webcams! 

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On the Nightstand

Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There -  Cass R. Sunstein and Tali Sharot  - Good, bad and surprising information on habituation - I'm enjoying this read!

In case you missed SDC3G Challenge.   It was a bit of a game-changer for me!

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Where in the world is Steph?

If I will be in your area, please reach out and let's make some magic happen! Even if I'm not in your area, I can be - click reply and let's chat about your event!

 ~ Toronto ~ North Dakota ~ Arizona ~ St. Louis ~ Manitoba ~ Washington ~ Maine ~ Nanaimo ~ Wisconsin ~ Your City!

Last week I was in Surrey, British Columbia keynoting for a Staff Appreciation event (welcome to our new friends!). 

Two things happened that I'd never experienced before. One, my program followed a full-on, jaw-dropping, make-your-heart-pound Circus - this was literally a hard act to follow as my heart was still racing from the stress of watching them; I was grateful that I didn't have to pull out my one party trick - the 'Teddy-Bear' stand which definitly pales in comparison to their feats!  

The second things that happened was that during my talk a lady let out a very loud 'ohhhhhh' in the theatre - like she was having her own personal ah-ha moment and the whole audience (and me!) burst out into sustained laughter! Her ah-ha moment turned into a moment of joy for 350 people, laughing in unison. That has got to be healthy - now if I could only remember what I said that caused that reaction!

Good night, sleep tight and don't let the beg bugs bite (always my goodnight from Auntie Rose, Steph