Whilst I was away on the north coast I picked up a book for one dollar. The title interested me, “18 minutes Find your Focus Master Distractions and Get the Right Things Done” by Peter Bregman.
The book looked like no one had read it before me, what a pity they missed out on reading some enlightening thoughts. Today my blog has been inspired by this book.
What matters to you? What will you regret not doing before you die? In his book Bergman encourages us to; “Focus your year on the things that matter to you. On things that have specific meaning to you.” In this particular chapter Bergman recounts the most common regrets of people who had gone home to die. “Their most common regret? I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. Their second most common? I wish I didn’t work so hard.”
I thought about this and realized I did indeed wish I hadn’t worked so hard. However, I can’t change my past. What I can do is refocus my future. I will live my life with no regrets but pursue my passion, pursue meaning in my life.
I believe I have been blessed with the ability to communicate. Without blowing my own trumpet I do think I am a good speaker, a good writer, a good reader and an average listener. Listening being the weakest link and something I need to practise on a regular basis.
However good communication depends on whether I am well or not. When I am well ideas come pouring out but when I am unwell communication especially talking and reading becomes a challenge. Probably the biggest challenge is reading.
I love to read, not being able to concentrate and focus on reading is very frustrating. During this last episode of depression I became determined to read. Thanks to belonging to a book group I had been given a book to focus on. I turned off all distractions like the radio, sat down in the peace and quiet and read the book club novel in a day and half. The effort I had to make was enormous but I’m so glad I did.
Now that I am well I have rediscovered my blog and decided to have a go at writing. What a revelation this has been. Who’d have thought that when I retired I would be taking up photography and writing, not me! What a gift I have been given. I am truly blessed.
What will give meaning to your life? What is your passion? Don’t wait till you retire but refocus on something that is meaningful to you. Something you can do on a regular basis, something that gets you out of bed in the morning.
Make a list of things you can do that will bring meaning to your life. It’s never to late to focus on one or more of these activities. I have no doubt that you too will discover your gifts. Take up your passions then you will see what life means to you.
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