Thursday, October 6, 2011

steve jobs 1955-2011

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

“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.”

" ...Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life." [steve jobs, in his Stanford commencement speech in 2005]

i may not agree with his worldview, but steve jobs was quite the inspiring innovator. i admire his ability to work hard, to eloquently explain things from his genius mind in a simple way that anyone could understand. i like how he seemed to keep his family life private. i like that he never stopped pushing himself and always kept moving forward, producing excellent quality work time and time again.

as much as he obviously cared about his work, you could tell that wasn't his whole life. he really seemed to have his priorities right. he skipped a business meeting to take his wife on their first date. i like that.

"I was in the parking lot with the key in the car, and I thought to myself, 'If this is my last night on earth, would I rather spend it at a business meeting or with this woman?' I ran across the parking lot, asked her if she'd have dinner with me. She said yes, we walked into town and we've been together ever since."

Saturday, October 1, 2011

what i'd say

"Contrary to what the cynics say, distance is not for the fearful, it is for the bold. It's for those who are willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for a little time with the one they love. It's for those knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don't see it nearly enough."
long distance isn't easy. i am independent, adventurous, love my alone time, and have a full life with things i look forward to each and every day - but being in a long distance relationship is still not easy. maybe this is a "duh" statement, but aren't there a lot of those in life?

when someone asks, "how's lance?" it makes my day. just hearing that someone else remembers that my boyfriend is deployed and cares enough to ask me about it makes me feel loved. for that quick conversation i feel less alone.

i am so impressed by all of the people who live with deployments for a lifetime - the soldiers who serve them, and their spouses, parents, and children. what a community. and so full of stories to be told. i am all about stories - another "duh" statement, huh?

if i could tell them all something ... i'd tell them they're not alone. that we've got their back. i'd remind them of the community of people around them and the country around all of that.

i'd especially remind the soldiers of that, and i pray that the voice of love and support from our nation would drown out anything else. but that is my prayer for all people - that you would know you are loved for who you are, and you belong.

i'd say that this country is still worth fighting for, even when it seems like the people on TV and all around don't seem to think so. i'd remind them that the united states of america is still the best country in the world to live in (in my opinion) and that i'm so thankful they/their family member thinks so too.

i am thankful that my studly boyfriend thinks so too. i'm proud of him.

this is a sweet song - i like to pretend he's singing it to me. don't act like you don't do that with your favorite songs too. ;-)