Today is an important day in the US – September 11th. I remembered seven years ago being on Broadway and 21st Street in New York City standing in one place watching the billowing smoke coming from the Towers. Everyone around me was so quiet! When I looked around, I saw the dazed looks on everyone’s faces. No one knew just how historic this moment would be in each of our lives and the lives of those directly impacted by this horrific act.
My job was Manager of Human Resources, and I spent the next few months working individually and in groups to help people deal with this traumatic event in their lives.
September 11th reminds me how vulnerable my life is and how quickly it could end. I’m not walking around with fear, but rather with an awareness that life is precious and each day I get to choose how I will live it. I don’t always live my life fully, and in fact, I can choose to live my hours in a dull and joyless manner.
I did an exercise today around how many hours I may have left in my life. I know there are no guarantees but still, what if I was to live another 26 more years.
- What would the next 26 years look like?
- In 26 more years, would I leave this world with regrets? If so, what would I regret?
- How will I add lots of joy into my life?
Here is the exercise:
Decide how old you will be when you die. I know there are no guarantees, yet if you were to choose an age, what would it be.
Next steps:
- Put down how old you will be when you die and minus out your current age. You will come up with the number of years you may have left in your life. For me, it was 26 more years.
- Now take the number (yours) and times it by 365 days. For me, it was 26 years x 365 days = 9490 days
- Now take the total days and times it by the number of hours in a day – 24. For me, I could have potentially 227,760 more hours in my life.
Now, you may be thinking that I should be doing other things with my life besides my simple math calculations. For me 227,760 hours means I can choose what I want to do with my hours…they are mine.
Each hour I use I decrease my total hours, so I need to increase the value of each hour I own in my life. It’s all about choosing what is important. For me, it’s important to write my blog post, and I’m willing to use my hour for it.
Your Thoughts
As you look at each hour of your life, what is important to you? What brings joy, challenge, warmth, love, and laughter in your life? What adds value to your life? At the beginning of each hour, ask how you can best use this hour for your highest good.
Women’s Group Topics
In what ways do each of the members live their lives fully? What would being present look like for each person? How can you become aware of what is important for you in creating your best life?
Be well,
Pat
“To fully enjoy the ‘richness’ of our lives, we need to stop long enough to visit with ourselves.”
(By Pat Brill)
Other Posts You May Be Interested In
What Does Loving You Look Like
Do You Play Small or Play Big in Your Life?
Are You De-Cluttering Your Physical Space?
**********More on BEING PRESENT AND ENJOYING THE HOURS IN YOUR LIFE**********
I agree with you…except that I have never really estimated how much life i may have left…but one of my favourite quote is “how old would u be if u didn’t know how old u were…”
Then we would all feel and act young, and live life youthfully, without the unnecessary fretting and worrying…a majority of our thoughts are consumed by past regrets and future worries! We barely live in the present.
I should know, I’m escaping from my present living in a terrorized India, where bomb blasts are becoming a daily occurence….
I just read that same question “If you didn’t know how old you were, how old would you be?” I love it and have asked friends and family and it’s interesting to hear their responses.
I always suggest people try Emotional Freedom Technique because it is a tool that is easy to do and helps everyone. Check out http://www.emofree.com
I hope your present life gets better.
Pat
Thanks Pat..will check it out.
Scripture tells us each person is alloted a specified amount of days…they are numbered. What will you do with yours? When we do not take them for granted and look forward with anticipation and a positive attitude great things are possible.