What sort of echo are you?

What we do in life echoes in eternity

attributed to Marcus Aurelias but spoken by Maximus in Gladiator

If anything in my life was to echo in eternity, I’d hope it would be through my kids.

Five years ago, I wrote a letter to my eldest daughter on her 18th birthday. It could have been written for any of our kids or anyone for that matter.

I thought her 18th was an opportunity to share some of the quotes that have echoed for me over the years. Some are direct quotes, others a combination of the wisdom of Baz Luhrmann & Mother Theresa, others my own take on life.

With her permission I’m sharing the letter.

Maybe there’ll be a whisper in here for you.

Lauren,

Practice meditation

If I could offer you a tip for the future, meditation would be it

The long-term benefits of meditation have been proved by scientists

Whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable

Than my own meandering experience, I will dispense this advice now

It’s OK to have a comfort zone, just don’t stay there too long and certainly don’t live there

Pay attention to your intention because it communicates far more than you think

Your actions echo in eternity, you’ll never quite know who or where your influence will start or end

Cherish your home and family – the only place you don’t have to deserve to be, talk to Mum and I, play with your brother and sister, always – you never know when they’ll be gone

If you argue with reality, you’ll be wrong…but only 100% of the time so love what is and if you can’t accept what is do everything you can to change it for next time

Never settle for being mediocre but never ever pursue perfection. Instead be the best you can be at whatever you choose – you don’t have to be ill to get better

Choose your attitude

People will come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime…be kind to them all for they’re just learning too – and if you pay attention, they could teach you something about yourself that no one else could

Lifetime friends know that you can both grow separately without growing apart

To borrow the words of Mohammed Ali - The hard work is done long before you dance under the lights – study your craft, be a student of your chosen game

When someone offers you a great opportunity, but you’re not sure-say yes and learn how to do it later

Once a month do something for the first time

Vicious rumours about you will either come from someone who can’t have you or someone who can never compete

Go all in with some things but dip your toe in others – you’ll have to decide which

It’s hard to be yourself in a world that wants you to be someone different - be yourself anyway

Don’t have a Plan B, it allows for a reason or an excuse if you don’t quite make Plan A because if you stick at Plan A long enough, you’ll make progress

Never let the attention or lack of attention from your love interest determine how you feel about yourself – the extent to which you love and accept yourself is in direct correlation to the extent to which others will love and accept you…and if you are loved and accepted you will be truly wealthy

Never use the F word –FEAR and especially not the C word – CAN’T

People are illogical, irrational, unreasonable, and self-centred - Love them anyway

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable - Be honest and frank anyway

Give the world the best you have, and you'll get kicked in the teeth - Give the world the best you have anyway.

Know where you’re going and what you want but be happy to be lost in something and surprised by where it takes you

Boiling water hardens an egg but softens a potato - the same circumstances, it’s what your made of that counts

I’m the one between impossible and possible

Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over it became a butterfly

Doubt your insecurities

Remember the 4 F’s – friends family fun and freedom - do everything you can to protect them all

Learn how to be happy and grateful with what you have while you pursue all that you dream of

It’s OK to feel bad, just don’t live there for too long

Be healthy but remember there’s more to life than preventing death

Do things regularly that scare you

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be

Your best teacher might come disguised as something you don’t like - seek the lesson anyway

And finally, trust…yourself, your family, the universe… and the meditation

Bounce forward with a free toolkit here.

#21whispers #wednesdaywhispers #betterlife #lifelessons #experimenting #bestpossibleme