Imagine the world without anger, without greed. We have the power, the tools, the skills and the resources right now to build a peaceful world, where people live in harmony with the Earth and each other. This blog explores ways we are doing just that, one post, one change, one day at a time. Join me. Tell your stories. Ask for help. Spread your ideas for making the vision real and, well, ordinary.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Wake, eat, love work, sleep

Sheg Aranmolate
Image courtesy Inspivia Books
If you knew this were your last day on Earth, what words of wisdom would you choose as your legacy? Gail Lynne Goodwin of InspireMeToday.com asks that question every day. Sheg Aranmolate, author of iACTUATE: 100 Days of Inspiration, told a story of a young man in prison, awakened and ordered to write his last words. The young man wrote of his approach to life.
  1. Wake: I will wake up every morning and smile at the world. I will be glad for the chance to see yet another day, and most especially I will be grateful for the "gift of life."
  2. Eat: I will cherish every meal I receive. I will eat healthy delicious meals and I will take my time to savor the complex flavors of each meal. My body is divine and it surely deserves the finest of foods.
  3. Love: I will develop my innate ability to Love myself and to Love others selflessly, as Love is the universal language that all humans understand.
  4. Work: I will establish my identity at work and I will let my purpose of "positively improving humanity" fuel my creativity and talents. I will view success not through the eyes of an epicure, but through the eyes of a famished individual who has been fed and empowered with the wisdom of life.
  5. Sleep: At the end of each day, I will lie in my bed and I will sleep like a baby because if life is worth living then it must be worth dreaming as well. Furthermore, I cannot dream without sleep!
Sheg Aranmolate
Inspire Me Today
Wake up glad to be alive, eat well, love selflessly, work to improve humanity and to fuel your own creativity and talents, sleep well and dream. What could give any of us more comfort and pleasure? Add good, physical exercise--work that uses the muscles and bones as they were intended--and you have the basic principles behind every Village of Ordinary post.

So far as I can tell, every one who reads my blog is also a writer and creating a legacy with each word, post, article, or book. I invite you to share a link in the comments below to something you would like others to read and know as part of your legacy.

Disclosure:  I have not yet read Mr. Aranmolate's book. I post a link to it on the Amazon web site so you can take a peek inside for yourself, if you're interested. Should you happen to purchase something during your visit to Amazon, it is possible I will earn a few pennies. What a thrill that would be.
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We make peace in a million small ways every day.
All text and images, unless otherwise noted, copyright L. Kathryn Grace. All rights reserved.

7 comments:

Laughing Doodle 2022 said...

Such an amazing man he is, to use his last words to give voice to such hope for more. "If life is worth living then it must be worth dreaming as well." And that is what he did - believed so much in the inherent value of living that he dreamed for more. That is a man I would like to know in my life, and a belief that I want to live.

A Box of Chocolates said...

wow that is quite amazing Kathryn, I would like to find my life's work and plan before I am asked on my last day. Sometimes I think what I have done in the last 50 years isn't of great value and then I remember somethings and think yes well maybe. Time will tell I guess. I loved this thanks

graceonline said...

Pojoam, Thankfully, Sheg, the man who told the story, is still living. I believe it is a fictional mechanism to show his life principles. I apologize for not making that more clear in my post. In any event, I'm grateful for your comments, always graceful and cogent.

Chocolates, welcome back. To me, you are doing your life's work--Taking care of your family, writing about your land and the work you do there, bringing joy to all of us with your photography and stories. But, that is just my opinion. Would love to learn what you yearn to do.

Cindy said...

very interesting, words of wisdom, You know I feel like Kim in alot of ways, like sometimes what I do is of no great value, then other times I feel differently. I think by doing maybe the plan falls into place. hugs. take care and have a great week.

kario said...

I think that simply being fully, truly aware of each thing we are doing IS our life's work. In doing so, we can discover what truly makes our hearts sing and begin to pursue that more fully and, if we're honest with ourselves and others, it can only enrich the world. What a lovely story. Thanks for sharing!

Deb Shucka said...

Lovely words to read and remember. It seems that gratitude is the foundation of it all. Thank you for sharing.

graceonline said...

Cinner, I think many of us share that feeling that we are never doing enough, always missing the mark. I certainly do. Every single day. I take courage in what I find on other blogs, like yours. You teach us all to love our bodies and treat them with respect. We can't accomplish anything without our health. You are a role model for many of us.

Kario, that's a very important point. Becoming fully aware in each moment helps us move ever closer to the truth in our core, and yes, that can only enrich the world.

Deb, gratitude and love. Keen observation as always. I often wonder if I discuss them too much. They are like a mantra for me.

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