This week, in honor of those who lost their
lives on September 11th five years ago, author and life coach
Cheryl Richards invites everyone to participate in a ritual she
uses to remind herself of the things that mattered most on
September 12th. Cheryl
says: “During the day after the attacks, so many people were
acutely aware of something special -- the innate goodness in
humanity that had millions wanting to help, or the natural
compassion we held for one another that caused us to light candles,
lay flowers, say prayers, or send money. Most of us felt an instinctive, almost
primitive need to reach out to loved ones and hold them
close.”
“That day showed me the true, universal
priorities we all need to keep at the forefront of our minds -- how
connected we are to our own soul, to each other, and to a Divine
Power. Over the next several months, everything came under scrutiny
-- my relationships, my work, how I spent my time, and the legacy I
would have left behind had my life ended. Realizing this truth in such an
earth-shattering way gave me the courage to make tough, choices to
insure that my life was reflecting what I valued most. I decided to travel less and be
home more. I spent
more quiet time alone.
I made my connection to God more of a priority, and I started the
ritual of answering the following questions each year on September
11th that I share here with you today. These questions are designed to
bring you back to September 12th -- the day that inspired us to
raise the bar on what it means to live a meaningful and fulfilling
life.”
Cheryl continues: “Take some time to think
about the state of your life now. Take a walk during lunch and
think about the following questions. Print them out and discuss them
during dinner with family or friends. Spend an hour by yourself writing
the answers in a journal or notebook. Don't wait for another crisis to
take your life seriously. Do it now . . .
~What were my priorities on
September 12th, 2001?
Have I continued to honor them?
~Am I pleased with how I'm
spending my precious time on earth?
~Am I spending enough time with
the people who matter most?
~Am I doing my best to listen to
the voice of my soul so I make real, honest choices based on what I
most want?
~If today were my last day on
earth, would I feel good about what I'm leaving
behind?
~Am I sharing (or working toward
sharing) my God-given gifts and talents with others?
~Are there any petty disagreements
or differences that I need to let go of once and for
all?
~Is there someone I need to
forgive?”
Dr. Mitchell says: This is a wonderful ritual to
complete not just this year, but each year. Remember, as you decide to focus
on life’s essentials, the words of Steven Covey:
"You have to decide what your
highest priorities are and have the courage -- pleasantly,
smilingly, nonapologetically -- to say 'no' to other things. And the way to do that is
by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside.”
Too often, we focus all of our time and energy
on what we need to do for others and neglect what we need to do for
ourselves. Not that
it’s bad to do for others - for some, it is a necessary part of our
lives (ask any parent!). For others, like veterinarians and many
others in the healing and teaching arts, it is our life focus. But to neglect ourselves in
order to always serve others is to lose an essential piece of
ourselves. And
eventually, everyone shares in the loss. So please - take some time for
yourself today. Treat
yourself gently.
Resolve to do these two things every day. And say a quiet blessing
for those who lost their lives five years ago, this
September.
If you liked what Cheryl had to say, you can
subscribe to, and read, her e-column each week. Contact (no charge for the
e-subscription):
http://www.cherylrichardson.com/newsletter/subscribe.htm
