Lest We Forget We Are Mortal…

By Bevv Beirl

We are beginning a new chapter in our lives – 2010. 

Most of us have or are in the process of reviewing the past year in our business.  My question is – what was 2009 like for you personally and what would you like your 2010 to be like personally?  Everything in our lives are connected, everything in our lives influences every outcome.

In the past couple of months and holiday season I’ve reminded us to be grateful for our divine source, friends, family and colleagues.  I’ve challenged you to turn off the cell phone, smart phone and computer and reconnect on a human level with people who enhance your life at the most basic levels.  I’ve asked you to stop and listen -- stop and think -- stop and live instead of revving up the treadmill every morning.

Every thing we do, think and say carries through our personal life into our businesses and vise versa. 

Yesterday we were informed that a friend, colleague, and client of my husband’s was sent to the hospital from a massive heart attack.  Tonight we were informed that he died.  No I didn’t say passed away or passed over.  He died!  We all will die.  We are all mortal.  In the last couple of years my husband and I have lost 5 close friends and nearly lost another 2 due to sudden emergencies.

Allow me to take you through a day in the Beirl household.  If you become a voyeur of another business owner, maybe it will help you understand that we are all in this project of life on earth together.  We all have challenges, emergencies and normal events to deal with day in and day out.  Only our attitudes will dictate whether we embrace life or complain, whine and make excuses.  This exercise is not meant to challenge you to a “worse” or “better” day than a Beirl day.  It’s simply meant to show you that we all deal with very normal events (good and bad) that depending on the time in our day, week, or life, can be a diversion, devastating or delightful.

January 11, 2010 Brian arrives at the office in the morning only to find the heat pump is kaput.  Staff and clients are freezing --- not to mention his plants surrounding the office are in full “at ease” state, in fact, most have died.  Of course the diagnosis for the 24 year old heat pump is replacement.  Property taxes are due on the office and house, we just paid college tuition and 3 of the 5 scheduled appointments for today have cancelled because they are sick.  At 3:00 pm we received a phone call from our daughter who just returned to the college campus yesterday, and she tells us that the heat in the dorm hasn’t been turned on, she slept in 2 pairs of socks, a sweat suit and gloves and it’s so cold there, the water pipes are busting and they had to leave the dorm.  And oh by the way --- “please transfer money onto my debit card so I can buy my books for the semester”.  At 6:30 we receive the call that a good friend and consulting client died when he returned to his office after his daily racquetball game.  A person who was perfectly healthy (or so it seemed), had a successful business and loved life.  A friend who was only in his late 50’s.

Granted every day in our lives is not this disruptive or challenging.  However, every day presents us with opportunities and challenges and we get to choose how we will approach it.  Will we fight?  Will we complain?  Will we over compensate?  Will we ignore the danger signs?  Will we embrace the very breath we take and strive to be authentic, sensitive to others while maintaining a self respect and our honor?

The point of this writing? ------ Simply this; THINK.  Realize that every thought you have dictates your actions.  Every action you take will affect your personal and business life.  Everything and I mean everything in life counts!  And oh yes --- we are mortal.  Make the most of your life every single day.