My sister shared this beautiful video with me. It
talks about the fact that what is most important in life, is not when
you were born, or died, or even how long you lived, but what you did
with that time in between. They call that the dash. This video really hit home for me, especially the question at the end about what will be said at my eulogy. Saint Patrick’s Day was the 20th anniversary of my Dad’s death. I can’t really get my head wrapped around the idea that it has been that long. He
died young, only fifty nine, and he didn’t live long enough to meet my
son or twelve other grandchildren, whose lives would have been so
blessed to have him in it. When he died I promised myself that I would be more like him.I would make him proud. I would be kinder and more compassionate to others, as you never know what that person is going through. Somewhere along the way, I forgot about that. I needed to be reminded of what is really important in life. Watching it helped me to remember just how blessed I really am, and also that it hasn’t always been that way. I have been down and out, suffred losses and disappointments, and I remember how it feels. I need to remind myself of that, when I start to lose patience with someone or be judgmental. After all it’s not about getting to the finish line, it’s how you run the race(or the dash).
At the end of this video,it asks you to think about what would be said at your eulogy. I had to really stop and think. What kind of impression do I leave on the people’s lives, with whom I interact? Am I kind when I have to turn someone down that applied to rent one of my properties? (Yes,
I learned that lesson a long time ago). Do I lose patience with someone
who moves a little slower than I would like, and therefore holds me up? (Yes, I do this all the time). Do I unselfishly give of myself, helping other people, even when there is no “real” benefit to me? (Sometimes)
Do I go out of my way to be kind, without really knowing a person’s
story, but because that is how I would hope to be treated in their
situation? (Sometimes)
Upon reflection, I realize that I do go out of my way to show kindness and cooperation with others. It
might be someone who needs to move in a hurry, (and I have to cancel
plans, or rearrange my schedule), or an agent who can’t show a property,
because she is ill, but has been working with the possible tenant for
weeks, so I show her clients my listing, but pay her the commission. I feel good about the fact that I am accommodating and flexible. I
have learned over the years, that it is so much easier to treat someone
with kindness and compassion, rather than judgment and curtness. My
habit today is to be as helpful and non judgmental as possible (that
hasn’t always been the case). I feel a lot better about the
uncomfortable, or unpleasant situations, and so does the other person. Sometimes
in this business, we have to disappoint people, or see them
disappointed, and our reactions to them in these situations, can make a
big difference, in how they walk away feeling. I feel good about the way I handle these situations today.
I do have to admit though, that I could do more. I
have been very blessed in my life, and know that I have a lot to give
to others, both strangers and loved ones and plan to start looking for
more opportunities to practice kindness.
I met someone today that I had never met before, and just had to get keys from her, and do a quick walk through, for a townhouse I am getting ready to list in Cocoa Beach. She has been renting there for several years, and just recently bought a short sale on Merritt Island and was planning to be completely out today. She seemed a little stressed and shared that her Dad, who lives up north, is sick and has taken a turn for the worse. I
told her how sorry I was, acknowledged how stressed she must be with
moving, and going back and forth to see her Dad. She started to cry, and
I felt awkward but couldn’t help but to reach out to her and console
her. I shared a little bit of my story about losing my Dad, and listened to hers. There
were a couple of things she missed with the cleaning, so I offered to
allow her to keep the garage remotes for the weekend, and she seemed
relieved, to have a little more time. I wished her well, when I was leaving and told her that I would pray for her. I was glad to have been in her path today, and hope that I made her day a little easier. I
feel pretty confident that she walked away with a good feeling about
me, and that’s is the way I would want everyone with whom I come in
contact with, to feel.
I hope that when it comes time for my eulogy, it will be a little like the eulogy that my Dad had. He
was, and is remembered as a kind, honest hardworking person that would
give a stranger the shirt off his back. He cut the lawn for the ninety
something women who lived accross the street from us, and brought her
trash cans in and out. He stopped and helped strangers broken down on
the side of the road, he was loved by everyone who knew him. His life
and death are a good examples for me of both living your life in a way
that you can be proud of, and enjoying every minute you have, because
life can be cut way too short.
What will they say at your Eulogy? Are you proud of what you did with your dash?
Heres a link to a great list of things you can do to be kinder to people, from Wiki-How: How to be kind.
Happy Easter!
