TWO MEN OF SUBSTANCE

I have been gathering some ideas from a book recently.


One of the chapters was talking about aging and the need to ask the kind of questions of yourself that will provoke you to think deeply, and to connect you with what matters most.



Here are 5 questions that were suggested to ask yourself.

Imagining that today was the last day of your life.



Did I dream richly?
Did I live fully?
Did I learn to let go?
Did I love well?
Did I tread lightly on the earth and leave it better than I found it?


The idea behind these questions is that by journaling about these questions, it will hopefully help you live with more authenticity, passion and joy.



There are many best selling books out right now based on this very idea.
I know that it seems a little touchy feely and on the new age side. Especially if you are a blue collar man. (Not a slight against hard work)


You be your own judge. For me, all of these questions are powerful and remind me of how far I have to go, one day at a time.



Recently I have had the privilege of meeting two special men that are over 80, and have really inspired me.


One of them I refer to as Mr Lee. I am not really sure how to pronounce his first name or if I am on equal ground socially and feel comfortable giving it a try.


Mr Lee has come into my life as an instructor of an Asian discipline called Qi (chi
Gong. Let me immediately say that I am just a novice but am trying. If I start telling you to "be like water" I hope the BS meter would start ringing.


He has been battling Cancer for a long time and somehow through this Chinese discipline of exercise and energy release, he has been healthy and happy for many
24 hours now.


This man positively radiates when he walks into a room. He is always smiling and goes the extra mile to actually listen to you when you speak. He is also always quoting the most obscure references that invariably put a smile on my dour face.

He was really smiling when for fun he showed me a move where you could strike somebody under the armpit with a quick shot that would terminate them. I was horrified and he was laughing. Precious.

Mr Lee went out of his way recently to teach me some special exercises and is actually bringing me back a list of new breathing moves when he returns from hong kong.

Also, the other day, he took time out of his afternoon to accompany me down to China town where we invaded a couple of shops and asked for some strange remedies and Black and White dried mushrooms that apparently have some incredible medicinal capabilities.

Why did he do this? Because I am such sterling company? I think not.


He is just the type of guy that leaves nothing behind. He wants to reach out and help, to make a difference in your life.


Why was this person put in my path? I am sure it can't be by pure chance, it seems
pretty prophetic from where I am sitting. Great guy, I am lucky.


I met this other gentleman Les through an organization that I am involved with. He reached out to me as well.

I had just finished speaking to a group of Strangers where I was talking about some of my past flawed philosophical stances and ridiculous life choices. I ended the talk by saying that some days I was sure I was a genius.

This was said facetiously and after the talk I gave, this older man came up to me and said.....Great talk...My name is Les, and I am another genius.

This guys sharp wit and honest eyes endeared him to me immediately. He imparted many
words of wisdom over lunch that day, and his diabolically dark sense of humour will stick with me for a long time to come.

I lost touch with him for a few weeks and then I recently heard that he was quite ill.

After a few days living with my usual procrastinations, I called him up.
He was energized and eager to here how my life was going.

When I finally asked about his health, he nonchalantly told me that the doctors told him that this was the final curtain call and that he only had a few months left.

I tried to give him a reply that was genuine and I told him that he had made a difference in my life although I only spoke with him a couple of times.

He seemed overjoyed. I said I was sorry and hoped to see him soon.

If he is up to it, I may tell him to look
into the Qi Gong and Chinese Mushrooms.


These two men are great examples to me of what is possible. I have know idea what their answers would be to the 5 questions listed above? However,I am sure that they would not be leaving much white space on the page.


I have the genius of their actions to inspire me on those days of feeling a little depressed and beaten down. There is not much more to say. Except maybe, thanks.

RL