Slowly dying to live

On Valentine's Day, Mohammad Farzan, an XPRESS well-wisher forwarded me a blog by John Slat, an American in the auto industry, admonishing his readers to stop, slow down and smell the roses.

An old friend on the other hand sent me advice on ‘How to stay young' and further advised me to stop dying to do whatever it was I hoped for and just live.

I am very happy to report that I am grateful to receive these unique gifts.

What John actually wrote at http:// the apple.monster.com/topics/2901 is: "We are so anxious of living the future that we forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists."

Pause to think for a minute here. We have all experienced expectation, whether it is at home, at school, at the work place or simply of ourselves - and that expectation is usually those age-old questions - How will it be? What will I be? Will I be rich, beautiful, successful, famous, a star….?

And then we begin the race to fulfil those expectations.

During that journey between our birth and the end of our days we forget to truly appreciate what we have - doting parents, helpful siblings, loving spouses, adorable children, great friends, good health… the list is endless.

John Slat is really inspired by the Swedish company he has been employed with for the last 18 years. "At Volvo", he writes, "people do things slowly but surely. There is no tearing hurry for results. On the other hand, they debate, debate, debate and hold several meetings to get things done right the first time to yield good results."

He further explains that going slow does not mean lower productivity. It just means doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and very little stress.

It also means a less coercive work environment - happier, lighter and more productive - where people enjoy doing what they know how best to do. It's also time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services without losing the essence of spirit.

My 90-year-old friend's advice simply read:

1. Throw out non-essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height.

Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay ‘them'.

2. Keep only cheerful friends around you. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain be idle. ‘An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'

And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: pets, keepsakes, friends, family, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity, because sometimes they forget.

I'm dying to follow the advice of both these wise men, but I will have to do it slowly.