The ultimate expression of life
is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a
Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million
dollars or a bank account or a home. Here's the ultimate
expression of life in my opinion, and that is living the 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. A few years ago I 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. Now we've all got casual friends. And if you called them
they would say, "Hey, if you get back, call me we'll have a
party." So you've got to have both, real friends and casual
friends.
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 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 part of your nature, it's what
makes us who we are, different from animals, 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 possible can. Buy a
ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and
experience all you possibly can. This has 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. Here's the greatest value. The
prophet said, "There are many virtues and values, but here's the
greatest, one person caring for another." 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.
