End Game

I’ve been thinking a little this week about the end of days. Not in a jump in front of traffic way, but more holistically. It’s hard not to, really: the excellent Scott Pape’s Bearfoot Investor is extremely open about preparing for retirement and death; Arianna Huffington’s Thrive starts off with eulogies; and then of course the final episode in the Avengers saga is upon us. Nail-biter!

None of this is any source of anxiety or fear. I mean, it’s a damn shame that Avengers has to end – I’m not made of stone, after all!! As for life itself, it cannot go on forever. For me, this brings not distress but peace and perspective. The corporate ladder glitters less: increase in pay, responsibility or pressure don’t run in harmony with, well, harmony. To draw from Thrive, eulogies don’t mention the implementation of a project on-time or that budget you managed successfully. In the grand scheme, no one cares about that rubbish.

The things that count are improving life for those around you, touching hearts, souls and minds, making other lives better. Some do it naturally, others wish to embark on such journeys after achieving a certain stratum - social/power/wealth standing – or never. The key perhaps is determining how much is enough? Contentment, satisfaction, unbridled delight, whatever your attainment goals. Overt concern with the have not’s blind you from what you already have. 

​My friend Adrianna’s book (we’re amigos now, although she actually doesn't know this yet) is packed full of quotations which I adore, just like the wonderful one from Wumen Huikai, the Chinese Zen master. He sounds like Yoda. Although it's good, it has a long way to beat . . . 

Image Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjznkomjVWs

P.S. Go see 'Avengers: Endgame', it's wonderful!