This morning I woke with a memory of the time I was waterskiing a few years ago.  The waves were pretty choppy, the wind cold, but I was determined to enjoy the last moments of summer with one last run around the lake.  My huge, python-like arms were getting tired when all of a sudden my ski dipped beneath a wave causing my feet to stick, then pop right out of the boots as I continued to hold on to the rope a split-second too long.  For a brief moment I was a cartoon character come to life with feet dangling behind me as I clung to that boat line…then…  SMACK!  I face-planted right into the water with ringing in my ears and a moment of blackness – I had given myself a slight concussion.  Lesson – learn when to let go.  I’m reminded of a Rob Bell Nooma video from a few years ago called Today.  In it he talks about embracing today and not getting mired longing for ‘good old days’ of the past which prevent us from truly engaging in our lives and finding new life.

…how much energy do people spend wishing things were how they were? If you need to celebrate how good it was then celebrate, if you need to remember how great it was when they were alive, then remember that. And if you need to grieve, grieve. If you need to apologize or make amends or you need to do something to make peace with how it was then do it, but then move on. I mean there is a certain kind of despair that sets in when we believe that things were better back then.  When we’re stuck back there and when we’re not fully present, when we’re still holding on to how things were – our arms aren’t free to embrace today…The answer is to be so fully present here and now that you don’t miss a thing in this day … and you don’t have any regrets because you were there the whole way.  – Rob Bell

So, here’s to embracing today and fully appreciating love, life and making every moment count.

In June of 2005 Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, gave a commencement speech at Stanford University.  Seems appropriate to share this today in memory of him.  There are some really great thoughts about life, leaving work, love, obstacles and tragedy in this TED speech.  He spoke about the time he was fired from Apple and how that situation led to great things and a time of creativity…and how you can’t connect the dots in the moment or looking to the future…it’s only when you look back that you realize you wouldn’t have the great things now if you didn’t have the painful times then.

Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. – Steve Jobs