“I beg your pardon. I did not do it on purpose.”
— Marie Antoinette
Marie’s last words, uttered moments before her execution, were to cheer up her executioner. Petite though she was, she had stepped on his foot. To the end, Marie felt it important to be polite.
Inspired on this glorious Monday morning by a list from my good friend Anonymous, here are one dozen reminders about what’s important in order to keep feeling good:
1. The value of time. Everyone’s waking hours are spent one of four ways: the time is wasted, spent, invested, or cherished. Invest and cherish as much as possible and minimize the other two.
2. The success of perseverance. If something is worth starting, it is usually worth finishing. The radiant warmth from a well-earned payoff is nuclear.
3. The pleasure of working. Work is good. Being lazy is bad. Next time we grumble about the work we’re doing, let’s pause and recalibrate. Gratitude trumps grumps.
4. The dignity of simplicity. The more gadgets we invent to simplify our lives, the more complicated they become. Simple is not “stupid,” it is linear. Great dignity comes from flawless execution, which is easiest to accomplish (and replicate) with simple, clever solutions.
5. The worth of character. A daily battle for us all: in the heart, in the mind, and in the mirror. If character is what we do when others are not looking, remember: “The right thing and the easy thing aren’t always the same thing.”
6. The influence of example. We are never too old to learn and never too young to teach. Years ago I was taught a very valuable life lesson from a pre-schooler. Good examples teach good things, as she did for me. Bad examples breed bad things, as we all have seen too often. Own this one, especially as it relates to choice. While we judge ourselves by our intentions, others judge us by our actions. Those actions — regardless of intention — are the examples we set for others.
7. The power of kindness. There is a lot of rudeness out there. Offset it. Commit a random act of kindness every single day, two or three if possible. Not only will you make others feel good, you will feel better while doing so.
8. The obligation of duty. Some stuff in life we need to do for good of the collective whole. Rather than whine about it, step forward and do it without drama or complaint. Life, work, community, and family are all collaborative efforts. With each goes this “sense of duty.” Embrace it.
9. The wisdom of economy. Quasi-billionaire Sir Paul McCartney likes to say, “Money means nothing unless you don’t have any.” Ring the bell for the cute Beatle, as that would be correct. The bigger message is to live within our means. Until we’re happy with who we are, we’ll never be happy with what we have. Happiness, therefore, is not dependent upon reaching a materialistic threshold of toys and trappings. Because happiness comes from the inside-out, once we are there — happy with who we are — the rest, we realize, is merely stuff.
10. The virtue of patience. Technology is driving short-tempered reflexive wants with immediate expectations, both of which burn the fuse of patience. If patience is not a current strength, commit to improvement. There are times to act with a great sense of urgency, and other times to balance impetuosity with a prudent willingness to wait. It is hard to coach or teach without patience but it is easy to be rude or hurtful.
11. The improvement of talent. If you are good at something, get better. If you want to get good at something, begin. Growing talent requires attention to three specific things: knowledge, skills, and attributes. Knowledge is what you know about a topic relative to what you need to know. Skills is defined as the demonstrated ability to achieve the desired results over time. Attributes are the magic traits that make each of us unique. Want to improve an existing or new talent? Methodically invest in those “KSAs.”
12. The joy of originating. Invention, and the gratifying satisfaction that comes from it, is extraordinary. Origination does not mean inventing a gadget or contraption. Each of us is empowered to originate, be it a private moment in the life of another, a book club that does not currently exist, a fantasy sports league to keep in touch with friends and family, or an after-school program for kids who will be forever grateful. Sitting on our butts is easy; getting off them and creating new things is fulfilling. Given a choice, let’s opt for fulfillment.
All up and in, these twelve reminders help us live richer, happier lives.
In honor of baseball spring training season in Florida and Arizona, have a great week — and don’t get caught in a rundown.