Tweet

A full life is not necessarily a long life

Written by: Charlie Badenhop

Article Overview: Please appreciate the life you DO have.

A full life is not necessarily a long life

Are you living your life appreciating what you DO have, or are you lamenting what still seems to be missing?
Three years ago the eight year old daughter of a friend died in a freak accident at school. My friend was devastated and I could not think of any wise words that might console him.
As the weeks rolled by my friend slipped into an ever deeper sense of despair, and nothing anyone said seemed to lift his spirit.

After a few months time he went out of town on a business trip, and on the train ride back he engaged in conversation with the woman sitting next to him. The woman sat there and nodded her head often as my friend talked about the death of his daughter. He reported to me that he had the sense of talking and talking and talking, until he finally felt like he had nothing more to say.
As my friend came to a natural state of rest, the woman nodded her head one more time as she took a deep breath, and then said the following,
"I can very much feel your pain, and I understand the loss of your child must be devastating."
"At the same time," she said, "I wonder if your pain would not be lessened if you celebrated the life your daughter did have."

"You told me about your daughter's sense of awe the first time you took her to the ocean, and how you carried her in your arms as you waded out into the water."
"You also spoke about the many times she sat on your lap and told you about the magical adventures she had during the course of her day."
"Perhaps the sweetest story you shared was how you told your daughter every night how much you loved her as you tucked her into bed."

"I’m wondering," the woman said, "What is it that leads you to believe you and your daughter did not live a full and glorious life together?"
"Is it because she died at eight years old and not at eighty? Certainly it would seem that the quality of one's life is not tied to the length of one's life."

"I would like to gently suggest that you and your daughter did live a full and complete life together. She just didn't live as long as you had hoped for and expected."

As the train neared the station the woman continued speaking.
"I am seventy two years old, and in looking back on my life I don't feel I have shared with anyone, the depth of experience and love you and your daughter had together."
"On one hand this makes me deeply sad. On the other hand, it wakes me up to the fact that my life is not yet finished. I can begin today to live the life I truly desire."
"This is the realization that your experience has helped me to understand, and for this wonderful gift I thank you deeply."

The woman smiled as she stood up, preparing to exit the train.
"None of us know how long we have to live. No one has control over the length of their life."
"The quality of our life on the other hand, is something you can ensure on a daily basis. An emotionally fulfilling life is a complete life, regardless of how many years you live. A life without love seems to take forever to end."
“We’ll do well to appreciate what we do have, rather than lamenting about what we don’t.”

To the readers of this article, I gently suggest you consider how you want to live your life, in order to ensure that your time on earth is fulfilling and complete.

Related Articles
  Success Is Doing Ordinary Things Really Well
  Changing the Way You Think Can Empower You
  Whats Your Life Purpose
  Home Business Expert: Retiring At 38 - We Did It!
  TED: Finding Balance

Article Tags: Anger Management, Charlie Badenhop, Executive Coaching, Life Coaching, Seishindo



Related Forum Posts
Re: HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE! - [quote="writer-ros":3ucfsvl7]I was very moved by this election. When you think that not so long ago blacks had virtually no rights - and now there is a black President. It just goes to show how things can change in a relatively short space of time. I think this is a very positive step for the whole world. BTW, does anyone else think there are some amazing similarities between this election and the fictional one shown in the fabulous TV series, West Wing, not so long ago? Is this art imitating life or life imitating art? Ros[/quote:3ucfsvl7] Hi Ros, I think it started with art imitating life, but now we are so influenced by what we see on TV, you can never know.
Re: Just a simple comparison & contrast of our truths in crisis. - Hi, that's a great point. I used to think my life wasn't that exciting or good and these days billionaires are killing themselves because of the market crash thinking a million is not enough! Before you start thinking about your life, look around you. Think how many people would love to have the life your living. A lot of us here may not be millionaires or billionaires, but at least we are fortunate enough to live under a roof and feed ourselves each day, and being able to afford internet. If you thought it was bad here with the economy, think of other 3rd world countries. Enjoy the life your giving, because in the next life you might not be so lucky!
Re: HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE! - I was very moved by this election. When you think that not so long ago blacks had virtually no rights - and now there is a black President. It just goes to show how things can change in a relatively short space of time. I think this is a very positive step for the whole world. BTW, does anyone else think there are some amazing similarities between this election and the fictional one shown in the fabulous TV series, West Wing, not so long ago? Is this art imitating life or life imitating art? Ros
Re: We are more richer today than the generations before us - Ok, David's post is going to make me look as dumb as a post, but I'm posting anyway. LOL To put it in more simple terms, as Zig Ziglar said, "Garbage in = garbage out". Think positive things, be around positive people, read positive books and you'll be a positive person with great things happening in your life. I'm positive of that. Hang around losers, whine a lot, think about all the bad in your life and you'll have a really seemingly long, poor life. 'Nuff said.
Re: what brings tears to Your eyes ???? - Hi Barry Being able to make a difference in a life, whether it is a human life or an animals life I think gives one a wonderful feeling of gratitude. Gratitude of being in a position to help and that what you do is actually going to make a difference is definitely enough to bring tears to your eyes. MichelleJ


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Email Marketing Made Easy #11 - Avoiding Spam

Stay Employed In A Down Economy

Winning Market Share in a Tough Economy

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.