In two days, I learnt about the passing away of the dad of a dear friend of mine from first grade and then the young wife of somebody that I was introduced to barely months back.
There is something about death that absolutely stops me in my track. Not sure whether it is the finality of it all or the incredible mystery of the unknown or the the fear of the inevitable… But I do realize that as the years roll by, that finality is touching more and more people I know around me.
And I have always wondered what learnings should I derive from that understanding of finality.
There is a old poem that I had once read and written down, but never quite figured out with authority who penned those words….
In any case, the words went thusly…
DO LESS
————–
Do less thinking,
And pay more attention to your heart
Do less acquiring,
And pay more attention to what you already have
Do less complaining,
And pay more attention to giving
Do less controlling,
And pay more attention to letting go
Do less criticizing,
And pay more attention to complimenting
Do less arguing,
And pay more attention to forgiveness
Do less running around,
And pay more attention to stillness
Do less talking,
And pay more attention to silence.
Certainly, by that above yardstick, I need somebody to postpone my death by a long time!!!!