I always relish getting a seasonal note from my friend Kenny Moore. It is always well written, witty and thoughtful.
His Winter Note just landed in my e-mail box this morning and I thought I should share some of it with you.
After all January is a time when we take stock of things, reflect on the past year and consider things we could do differently if not better.
So here are a couple excerpts of “What Do You Want To Be Caught Dead Doing?”
by Kenny Moore.
- Work can kill you:
"I had to fly to Pittsburgh on business the other day and I thought I was going to die. Not that anything traumatic happened. In fact, the trip was uneventful. Just the same, I made sure I kissed my wife and hugged the kids before I left for the airport. I’ve changed my behavior to now consider that this might be the last time I see them before my untimely demise. I get similar feelings when I drive over a bridge or go through a tunnel. Attending a meeting in a tall office building or opening a piece of mail sets off the same alarm."
- The Final curtain:
"I’ve personally had two near-death experiences over the years. I came away from both with a profound sense of clarity and thankfulness. But alas, it was short-lived. A few months down the road, I was back yelling at the kids, criticizing the wife and complaining about senior management. My therapist said it was a sign of normalcy. I felt like I had lost something precious.
To help regain some of what got lost, I take more risks to scare myself back into clarity. If I could be dead tomorrow, what should I not pass up doing for want of courage? “I wouldn’t be caught dead doing that…”
gets repositioned into “So what is it that I want to be caught dead
doing?” Then I go out and do it. Some might say that’s suicidal. I
find it enlivening. There are consequences, though. I am living with significantly more guilt, as well as a marked attraction to
tomfoolery. The propensity to say, “What the hell … let’s try it” has
increased. My wife says it’s gotten out of hand. I fear she’ll seek revenge when she writes my eulogy."
If you want to read the complete Winter Note, E-mail Kenny and ask for a copy.
You can also read The CEO and the Monk (John Wiley) which he co-authored.
My only contribution to the topic he touches on was with 5 Things to Eat before you Die.
Enjoy your day!