The science of how to live well continues in an avalanche. We know that Being Good, Doing Good, for the Common Good builds brain synapses to grow the process. We also know that doing simple, routine practices do the same.
The result is your personal movement to:
If you do not have a life motto, I suggest documenting one is a worthwhile thing to do. You will find as I have that it changes as you develop. My latest one is:
Work Hard — Fail Often — Do Well.
This says so much.
Let’s get right to it: So many of us avoid, or obsess about, or are in terror of the end of life. Answers to this reality are simple. Let’s begin with one of our most remarkable ancient philosophers, Marcus Aurelius – yes, the roman emperor who ruled 161-180 CE – one of the “good emperors,” and the same emperor in The Gladiator. Think of him visiting with Maximus in his tent just after crushing the last of the Germanic tribes as he reflected on his legacy and life lessons learned:
A blog is only as good as your comments.1
The Amazon book description page for The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Green is a grabber: “Amoral, cunning, ruthless …,” a book for people who have an interest in “… total domination.” Who would not want to “Buy Now” just to see what is on the other side?
This brings a great question: What good is power (and total domination) if you aren’t good?
When we develop simple rules to live by, much becomes possible because more become doable. You find it is actually easier to get through the day because you have a criterion to do what you must do, want to do or like to do. Yes, this even leaves time in the evening for a guilty pleasure even NetFlix.
I am a lucky guy for many reasons. One of which is that “retirement” brings the most wonderful people into my orbit. I have the sincere honor to make the acquaintance of the man, Reuven Bar-On, who “invented” the Emotional Quotient some 30+ years ago. One of those things that, as Mr. Jobs said, “Put a little ding in the universe.” Reuven is now updating it for wider and wider application. What a great way to leave something lasting. Reuven and I had an email conversation considering a question we may want to ask: Will what I am doing stand the test of time by bettering myself and those around me?
I have had the good fortune to visit with a few members of the Greatest Generation, parents of the Boomers. They’ve seen economic depression, the death and destruction of world war, pandemics that killed millions, and personal tragedies enough for two lifetimes. They were women, their men long gone. Each of them was a walking history book and an example of a remarkably buoyant view of life. They accepted their decline and were always ready to chat all evening long.
Somehow our Founding Fathers took the best of historical experiments in government and crafted the governance of our republic in ways that work. Although our system of government can engender divisiveness, the ever-adjusting balance of power allows us the freedom as a society to take our ideas and run with them. We are just beginning to see the splendid fruits of galactic amounts of information in the hands of multitudes who care to click on it and create the new and good.
In short, I love being an American. I realize I have a part in the most significant experiments in liberty and justice. I want to take advantage of my good fortune, and I want to play my part well.