This Wednesday I wanted to share with you my favorite motivational reading of all time. I found this when I was a freshman in college and instantly it changed something inside me; I printed it off and have hung it up in every dorm, sorority room, apartment and house I've lived in since then. When I feel my priorities are skewed, this helps me re-evaluate.
In my home, it serves as a constant reminder of what is important in this life.
What Will Matter?
by Michael Josephson
Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.
There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten
will pass to someone else.
All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten
will pass to someone else.
Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations
and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations
and jealousies will finally disappear.
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where you came from
or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.
It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
So what will matter?
How will the value of your days be measured?
How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought
but what you built, not what you got but what you gave.
but what you built, not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success
but your significance.
but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned
but what you taught.
but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity,
compassion, courage, or sacrifice
that enriched, empowered or encouraged others
to emulate your example.
compassion, courage, or sacrifice
that enriched, empowered or encouraged others
to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence
but your character.
but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew,
but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
What will matter is not your memories
but the memories that live in those who loved you.
but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is how long you will be remembered,
by whom and for what.
by whom and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.
That is really neat Jean! Thanks for sharing. I got a saying from my H.S. Accounting Teacher called "Don't Quit", that is motivational also.
ReplyDeleteLove this Lindsay Jean!! Great reminder of what really does matter and you are a role model for that! Love you and your writing, have a great rest of the week!
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for a friend like you...that matters to me!
ReplyDeleteWow....thank you for sharing. :-)
ReplyDeleteI love this, Lindsay! I really enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for sharing...
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool very nice reading.
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