This morning both joy and sadness linger. Joy to have shared my great news with you last night. Sadness at the loss of Steve Jobs.
There’s so much to learn from this man’s life: the passion to pursue a vision; the dedication to bring that new vision of creativity the world; the desire to use what we’ve learned in service to the world.
For a long time I had a quote from Steve Jobs posted on the ceiling over my bed. It said: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”
His address at the Stanford Commencement in 2005 is so memorable that I used it as the basis for a Toastmasters speech a couple of years ago. It’s worth the time to watch:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc
As I go through this day, I will remember Steve Jobs and the excellence with which he pursued his passions. I will remember his dedication to the challenges. There is nothing so great in this life that we cannot overcome it with focus and dedication.
I wish you joy today as you pursue your own personal Challenge.
3 comments
Leah Carey
October 6, 2011 at 9:15 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Today I set up my first Health Savings Account, which means I’ll now have some money with which to pay for health related expenses. That’s been something that has always just had to go on the credit card – or if it was a good month, I’d scrape it out of my checking account. So now there will be a little buffer! Completely awesome! 🙂
William
October 6, 2011 at 9:31 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yesterday when I vowed to sit and eat chocolate it only took about 10 minutes before I felt good being me and quite enthusiastic to do something productive. There was no “should” in it. Just a genuine enthusiasm for a specific task. I feel more joyful now that I don’t believe the old criticism that I’m not producing enough and thus can’t feel good about myself. By some standards I’m not producing enough and I feel great about myself. By other standards I’m doing too much and still I feel great about myself. Funny thing is that I had to recognize the voice of guilt and it’s origen before I could stop taking the indictment seriously and just feel great being myself.
Susan M
October 6, 2011 at 11:28 PM (UTC -5) Link to this comment
@William – Go You! 10 minutes of eating chocolate. Now that is ecstasy!
@Leah – Yay for your new account!
So, I’ve been thinking about our friend Steve Jobs today, too. An extra-ordinary man. I wonder if he would have been diagnosed or labelled AD/HD when he was in school. Don’t you know how those innovative, out-of-the box thinkers just can’t focus on the important things in school. They are always too busy building with legos or daydreaming or arguing with the teacher. Since they are not paying attention when the homework is announced they get an F on it. They should’ve been listening.
Well, I am so thankful for kids like this! These are the ones who change the world. And the miracle that I experience everyday is the gift of working with these bright, talented, energetic, creative children such as Steve Jobs was. I am blessed! Each day, I learn anew from the children who call me “coach”. They teach me while I am helping them to navigate a world that just doesn’t understand them but then wants to buy and have all the gadgets and toys they will one day create – no doubt about it! With deepest and utmost gratitude, I say “thank you” to my student clients. Each one of you changes the world for the better each day and I just can’t wait to see all of the grand changes to come in the future. Because of you, the world is a better place. Because you ask, because you argue, because you dream, because you persist, because you pay attention to the topics that interest you most. You are each miracles. I see it!