Barry's Blog

Robert Frost observed, "By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day." The truth of the matter is that I have rarely met a "successful" man in business who did not take his work very seriously. After all,  work is the primary way we men measure ourselves, and " keep score."  Most of us have had our noses to the grindstone for years, keeping a frenetic pace to stay on top of our work, yet trying to find balance in our lives between work and leisure. And the trouble with many of us is that although we have good intentions, we often respond to the "tyranny of the urgent," and let our work trump our relationships, and our own downtime to think and reflect on life.

Most of us would do well to read the following letter by an anonymous friar in Nebraska, written from a monastery late in his life. His words are particularly relevant for the A-Type personalities of the world who disdain the notion of leisure and recreation. Maybe we would do well not only to read it, but to reflect deeply on his words, letting his wisdom seep down deep into our tired and weary souls.

"If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I know of very few things I would take seriously.
I would take more trips.
I would be crazier.
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers,
and watch more sunsets.
I would do more walking and looking.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would have more actual troubles, and fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I'm one of those people who lives life
prophylactically and sensibly hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again I'd have more of them. 

In fact, I'd try to have nothing else, just moments, one after another,
instead of living so many years ahead each day.
I've been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer,
a hot-water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, aspirin, and a parachute.

If I had it to do over again I would go places, do things, and travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over I would start barefooted earlier in the spring
and stay that way later in the fall.
I would play hookey more. I wouldn't make such good grades, except by accident.
I would ride on more merry-go-rounds.
I'd pick more daisies." 

 
"There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen, that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?...I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor - it is the gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, 3:12-13)

 
For FinishingWell,

Barry Morrow 

 
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