December 27, 2006

The Good Life

Something wonderful to ponder as we enter the new year...

WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD LIFE?
by Jim Rohn


The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. Neither is it a Mercedes. Nor a million dollars in a bank account. Here's the ultimate expression of life in my opinion, and that is
living a good life.
Here's what we must ask constantly, "What for me would be a good life?" And you have to keep going over and over the list. A list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation.

What would constitute a good life? I've got a short list.


1. Number one,
PRODUCTIVITY. You won't be happy if you don't produce. The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough to gather strength to get back to productivity. What's the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It's to see what you can do with it. To try your hand. Other people have tried their hand; here's what they did. You try your hand to see what you can do. So part of life is productivity.


2) Next are
GOOD FRIENDS. Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world. Don't deny yourself the time to develop this support system. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in its benefit. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you.

I just lost one of my dearest friends. He died at age 53 - heart attack. David is gone, but he was one of my very special friends. I used to say of David that if I was stuck in a foreign jail somewhere accused unduly and if they would allow me one phone call, I would call David. Why? He would come and get me. That's a friend. Somebody who would come and get you.


3) Next on the list of a good life is your CULTURE. Your language, your music, the ceremonies, the traditions, the dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. In fact it is the uniqueness of all of us that when blended together brings vitality, energy, power, influence, uniqueness and rightness to the world.


4) Next is your religion, your
SPIRITUALITY. It helps to form the foundation of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach. Don't be careless about the spiritual art of your nature, it's what makes us who we are, different from dogs, cats, birds and mice. Spirituality.


5) Next, here's what my parents taught me.
DON'T MISS ANYTHING. Don't miss the game. Don't miss the performance, don't miss the movie, don't miss the show, don't miss the dance. Go to everything you possibly can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and experience all you possible can. That's what my parents taught me and it's served me so well to this day.

Just before my father died at age 93 if you were to call him at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, he wouldn't be home. He was at the rodeo, he was watching the kids play softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at church, he was somewhere every night.
Live a vital life.

Here's one of the reasons why: If you live well, you will earn well. If you live well, it will show in your face, it will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique and magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your personal life but also your business life. And it will give you a vitality nothing else can give.



6) Next are your FAMILY and the INNER CIRCLE. Invest in them and they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner circle take care of the details.
When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho. So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special day.

Now if I was in Israel, I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, "Papa, I'm in Israel." He'd say, "Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel. I'd say, "Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." Now everybody knows the story. It only took 5-10 minutes, but what a special day for my father, age 93.

If a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter's kiss on his face all day, he's a
powerful man. If a husband walks out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around his body, he's invincible all day. It's the special stuff with the INNER CIRCLE that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don't miss that opportunity.

There is no greater value than LOVE. Better to live in a tent on the beach with someone you love than to live in a mansion by yourself.


One person caring for another, that's one of life's greatest expressions.

So make sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what you do.
May you truly live the kind of life that will bring the fruit and rewards that you desire.

HAVE A FABULOUS NEW YEAR TEEMING WITH ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE!!!

42 comments:

JR's Thumbprints said...

Hey Irene,
I can always come back to your blog for some inspiration. Have a wonderful New Year and may you continue your life's journey with much success. Cheers!

Smalltown RN said...

What a wonderful post and thought provoking....something to work towards....

Happy New Years my friend

Irene said...

JR: It's been a great year getting to know you through your blog. I'm looking forward to another year of discovering more juicy stuff about you. ;p

Happy New 2007!!!

Smalltown RN: Glad you liked it! Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! =)

SQT said...

Happy New Year Irene. I know you live a productive life for sure, and I just bet you'd have no shortage of friends who would bail you out of jail. :)

Suzan Abrams, email: suzanabrams@live.co.uk said...

Dear Irene,
What a clever enriching post! It really spoke to me. I think just looking at the first picture, one could have stared for the longest time.

And No.5 made my heart beat with excitement....don't miss the moment.
Irene, I'm going to print this out and use them as guidelines, if that's ok.

Your new friendship makes up for part of the good things in my life.

happy new year & big hug.

thethinker said...

Have a great New Year. Happy 2007!

Anonymous said...

Just want to wish you a happy new year and may all the best things befalls on you
:)

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

lovely post, very thought provoking. thank you and happy new year! bee

Margo said...

Wonderful post, Irene!! All so true!

Happy 2007!

Ian said...

Darn you, Irene...You brought a tear to my eye with this post. How'm I going to convince people I'm a hard-hearted bastard if they see me sniveling like a schoolgirl over a dead tomtit?

Lovely, lovely post by a lovely person. Thanks for writing it so we can all read it.

Ian

Lizza said...

Lovely article, and so apt.

Manigong Bagong Taon! Wishing you and your loved ones even more happiness and success.

Tracy said...

Happy New Years Irene! I hope this year is full of blessings for you and your family.

Eddie said...

Irene, Irene, Irene...

I usually read lists of "the meaning of life" and similar topics and take it with a grain of salt, but this pregnant pause thingy actually possessed me to take an inward look at myself and all the lusciousness of the people and places that surround me...

Wow. That was mind-stroking. I love your blog. Happy New Year to you doll, and much kudos to you for commenting on my loopy blog. I will return...

Stewart Sternberg (half of L.P. Styles) said...

Sometimes I think the most important thing in life is trying to figure out how to slow down and see the mundane as the most wonderful. I can't put it more simply. Or emphasize with more integrity.

It's me, T.J. said...

Happy New Year!

Michael C said...

Thanks for the reminder and map showing how to approach 2007. The Happiest of New Years to you, your son and your husband!

Maryanne Moll said...

resuscitated! happy 2007!

houseband00 said...

Happy New Year, Ms Tooreezm! =)

Frank Sirianni said...

Wishing you and yours the very best in the new year
frank

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Irene. Great list of wonderful things to look forward to.

Keshi said...

This is seriosuly a great post...I learnt so much just by reading this post. TY for this Irene!

**Somebody who would come and get you.

I totally agree. And how many of ur friends would really do that. Not many. So the ones who'd do that r the real friends.

Happy New Year Irene HUGGGGGGZ!

Keshi.

Nosjunkie said...

You have a good list going there and since this is not something I think about often I have nothing els to add other then best wishes for 2007

ShadowFalcon said...

I like that post, makes you think. Happy new year!

Darla said...

this is a fabulous entry!!!! *new reader*

little things said...

Excellent post. Isn't life wonderful?

krystyna said...

Hi Irene!
So beautiful is this post. And so needful and inspiration. Very good for start New Year. Thanks for writing it!
Many, many blessings to you!

slaghammer said...

Hi Irene, you hit the nail on the head at every point.

Twyla said...

Wow...That was exactly what I needed to read tonight. Thank you.

Tom Atkins said...

We all have our definitions of a good life, but this was certainly a good one. If our lives had everything that was here in them, it could not help but be good.

Glad to see your new year off to a great start.

Tom

mika said...

this is the perfect inspiration for the new year! thanx for posting it, i heart your blog so much!

Amalendu said...

A Very Happy New Year to you Irene...

choochoo said...

I love this post. You're pretty damn clever sometimes. I say "sometimes" 'cause I wouldn't want you to get a big head;)

Barb said...

Have you heard of Blog Hopping? I've just hopped to your site. Come visit MINE where I've left a link to YOURS! (This is NOT an ad.)

Malnurtured Snay said...

I'd be okay losing thirty pounds and keeping my apartment clean. Plus, getting over this fever.

Plus Ultra said...

Irene, Fabulous

Max and Me said...

what a wonderful and joyous post this is! thank you for this!

Katie said...

I think this is one of my favorite posts I've read in the blogosphere so far. Thanks for the inspiration!

~Belle

angie said...

thank you.

Romeo Morningwood said...

Ooh Aah!
What a great post..the colours, the sentiments..brilliant.
I adore the way SPLASH all over the screen..very few Bloggers manage to bring things to LIFE the way that you can..keep up the fabulous productivity.
Enjoy 007, I hope that it brings you everything on this list.

Michael C said...

Just checking in to make sure all is well...

Suzan Abrams, email: suzanabrams@live.co.uk said...

Irene, where are you?
I miss you, miss you, miss you.
Love you. :-)

M- Filer said...

You are a wise woman. I am glad I found your blog.

Productivity: I needed to hear that. Thank you.