Written by: Brian Wood, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The following quote represents one of the greatest lies and perhaps the biggest illusion: "The trouble is, you think you have time" ‒ Buddha
We take things for granted daily. Even though we feel appreciation for the moment, there is usually a higher level of gratitude that we can and should experience.
There's some truth to the saying, "People pray for the things we complain about."
Sunday morning coffee with my wife is special. In fact, the longer the wait for this ritual to take place, the grouchier I become. These coffee moments are always good, and if I knew this Sunday would be the very last coffee time that we would share together, I would savor that coffee, cherish it, embrace it and bathe in it (ok - I went too far, but you get the point!).
If you knew this was your last cup of coffee, you probably wouldn't be thinking about the purchases you made that included the most popular labels. It's doubtful that you would be contemplating the number of social media "likes" your last post generated during your final sips. Hopefully, there will be more thoughts of gratitude for the memories created and the impact you had on others as opposed to resentment for chasing the wrong things.
We can give ourselves more time and a better-quality experience for the people we love and lead. By reducing the many distractions that surround us, deleting the activities, behaviors and habits that don't serve us and by being present, we can increase the number of meaningful and inspirational moments that could otherwise slip right through our fingers. Showing up deliberately and using our time wisely elevates our appreciation for the moment while also creating a space to create ideas, dream about possibilities and decide how we can fight together and get into some good trouble.
Some day we will each experience that final cup of coffee. In that moment, we might not recognize the finality and might assume “We’ll do it tomorrow.”
In fact, every single day we cross paths with people for the very last time. If you knew that was the very last interaction with a receptionist, waitress, employee, team member or anyone else - would you show up differently? Today could be that last drop of caffeine.
Sometimes it takes imagination and patience. I have always struggled with the latter! Case in point, I recently found a birthday card from my mom who constantly showered me and my sisters with positivity. I'm looking at this card that Hallmark outlined with a long list of attributes for the birthday son and my mom wrote a small side note next to one of the characteristics - patience. "Oh well, you can't win them all Brian!"
So, let's stick with imagination:
An elderly couple is in front of you holding hands and walking slowly. The natural reaction might be "Come on! I've got stuff to do and these two are moving in slow motion!"
Before you fall into this trap, use some creativity and your imagination. The beauty of imagination is that it doesn't even have to be true but can still shift our mindset in a way that helps us live and lead better.
Maybe this couple in front of you is experiencing their last cup of coffee. They have received bad news from the doctor and the end for one of them is close and inevitable. They are cherishing one more walk while recalling adventures and laughter from years ago that brought them joy.
You never know what someone may be going through, so imagine that they need you to be your very best right now – more than ever. They need you to be aware, present, courageous, and empathetic as a person and as a leader.
"If tomorrow wasn’t promised, what would you give for today?" ‒ Ray Lewis
Brian Wood, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Brian Wood combines 30 years of corporate experience with his background as an athlete, certified player agent (NBA, WNBA, and FIBA), and a certified professional success coach to provide clients with a unique perspective and guidance toward the next level of achievement. Wood is passionate about continuous personal and professional growth including organizational development, training, and gamification. He is enthusiastic about helping leaders leverage their gifts to drive impact and success. Wood supports major corporations, professional sports organizations, and municipalities. He provides confidential, professional, and executive coaching, speaking engagements, virtual and in-person facilitation.
