Sunday, July 12, 2009

The secret of life


Here are some comments from Coach Bob Tschannen-Moran*.

What’s the secret of life?

I think it has to do with connection, generosity, and joy. The more focused we become on self-protection the harder it is to experience laughter, love, and luxury. It may be tempting in these difficult economic times to hunker down with a wary-and-weary mentality, but we do so at our peril. Not only does this cut us off from that which makes life worth living, it also endangers the well-being of us all. So don't let that happen. Reach out and touch someone. Be extravagant with your generosity. Take time to notice the little things in life. Find ways to celebrate the wonder of it all.

What do you think?
How's this for an explanation of the human life span. (Author unknown)
A silly story.

On the first day, God created dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years." Dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?"

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span." Monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like Dog did?"

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created cow and said: "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years." Cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created human and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years." But human said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty that cow gave back, the ten that monkey gave back, and the ten that dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

We humans do, indeed, go through many phases although not in such a linear fashion.

Here's to more monkey tricks and less barking at every age!

*Bob Tschannen-Moran, IAC-CC, CWC, is President of LifeTrek Coaching International
http://www.lifetrekcoaching.com/


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