Five Great Lessons for Life

As we move through life, we encounter many opportunities to make a difference. Having been thrown some life-changing curve balls as of late, I thought I would share with you some life lessons that I received several years ago from a friend of mine. They are already making a difference for me, my mindset, and overall outlook on life. I hope they present an opportunity for you to stop and think for a moment about what are the most important things in your life.

You see, recently I suffered a few setbacks (we all do sooner or later), and I became more determined than ever to bring my business to the next level. I worked even harder, longer, but in the process stopped doing the very things that meant the most to me.

I started thinking about why I became an entrepreneur. It wasn't just about being self-sufficient or making lots of money. No, the real reason was the financial freedom it could offer so that I can spend more time with my family, friends, and doing the things that are most important to me.

I finally realized that I didn't need lots of money to spend more time with my wife and my family. I could do that right now.

This one difference in my mindset has completely changed me for the better. Now it's not just about profits and the bottom line anymore. Sure, they're important, because we have to eat and pay the bills. But by taking the time to look around and really take notice of everything (things that have been there all along), I feel as if I am seeing them for the first time. It's quite an exciting time for me. My only regret is that I didn't "get" this earlier.

But no matter. I have the rest of my life ahead of me now. And now I'd like to pass along some interesting lessons.

As I've said, a friend sent these to me several years ago. In fact, it was early 2001. And they sat around, just waiting for me to read them again more than 5 years later.

These are not my stories. Nevertheless, I can imagine myself in these situations. Would "the old me" have done the right thing? I don't know. I only know how I would handle them now.

• First Important Lesson
  
  During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one:
  
  "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
  
  Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
  
  "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'."
  
  I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned that her name was Dorothy.

• Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain
  
  One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry but wrote down his address and thanked him.
  
  Seven days went by, and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read:
  
  "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
  
  Sincerely,
  Mrs. Nat King Cole

• Third Important Lesson- Remember Those Who Serve
  
  In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
  
  "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.
  
  "Fifty cents," replied the waitress.
  
  The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
  
  "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.
  
  By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.
  
  "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.
  
  The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.
  
  The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

• Fourth Important Lesson - The Obstacle in Our Path
  
  In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
  
  Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
  
  The peasant learned what many of us never understand: Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

• Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts
  
  Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."
  
  As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks.
  
  Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"
  
  Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. You see, after all, understanding and attitude, are everything.
  

Have your own story to share? I'd love to hear about it.