Are you living to die or are you living to live? As Erwin McManus in the Last Arrow challenges us, “Before you Die, live the life you were born to live. Save nothing for the next life.”

 How about your kids, do you hope and pray that they will live to their full potential and are you as a parent offering them an example of living life fully?

I just finished this inspiring read that offers great personal development for work but also for our family lives. I was introduced to this author during the Servant Leadership Summit that was sponsored by Berrett Koehler. This summit was offered free right at the outset of the COVID pandemic physical distancing and what a beautiful gift!

Now that we are approaching the end of the strict quarantine rules and opening up our societies for business, this is a great time to go within and double check how we are going to enter The Rat Race. The Last Arrow is a great read as a provocation, challenging us to reflect and confirm our mission statements. Have we changed after being sequestered for seven weeks? Are we going to give it our all? What kind of example are we going to set for our children?

As I read this book I reflected upon who during my formative years were my primary role models? Who exuded grit, patience, understanding and forgiveness? There were two, my parents Frank and Olga. Yes, there have been others as I grew such as my brother, husband and various friends but Frank and Olga were my heroes. My father in particular was the person I imprinted with and developed many of my personality traits. He inspired me through his many accomplishments, his connected relationships, desire to develop spiritually, pushing of boundaries and determination to live life fully. As a matter of fact, two years after he had cancer removed from his body, and then had another tumour removed the size of his fist that was ready to render him paralyzed, he was told 80 percent change he wouldn’t survive and every year after it would then become 80 percent of 80 percent. Well that prognosis was like waving a red flag in front of a raging bull, he was not going down and spent the next 8 years defying all odds fighting kidney cancer with all his might! He used all his arrows! Is this not what we want to provide for our kids. I was most touched by McManus’ dedication to his book which I have included here.

I salute my dad and his tenacious spirit! This week I am going to read from The Executive Gardener and the Fairy that has seven of his business stories. This fictional piece that includes much of the reality of my dad’s life, I like to say was my dad’s apology to my mom.

Dazzle’s Challenge: When you retire, and your child asks you, “Geez would you have done anything different? What might you say to your child?

“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” —Mother Teresa, nun and missionary

Quick Take Away Links:

 A TED Talk by Erwin McManus founder of Mosaic a church in Hollywood

https://theforum.columbusstate.edu/about/leadership-forum/

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/7-ways-to-be-more-productive-and-spend-less-time-in-the-office-2/

https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15259-working-from-home-more-productive.html

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/these-are-some-of-retirees-biggest-regrets-2020-02-03