"Better than Cosmo! Others just recite facts, but I like your posts best because of the in-depth analysis."
"Great work! Your stuff is a sight for sore eyes in this wash of dumbed down crap for the masses I see all the time on the internet."
"Greg is a dapper gent, intelligent, and easy to hang with. He made me feel right at home in his film noir-esque lair. We talked at great length about books, influences (we both write), and on a broad range of topics that might cause one to raise an eye brow while pondering. He was great fun to roam the city with. I'm looking forward to another round of pursuing art exhibits and deep dialog over late night coffees the next time we cross paths."
"Greg! Thank you so much! I will not forget this! Your help will make it easier for me to secure a job when I get back home from Switzerland!"
"Dude I hate to write you about this again but those nutrition tips you sent me were a fucking godsend. Anyway, I do appreciate ya... you're a good egg."
"Dear Mr. Greg: You are creative and amusing... two things I find irresistible. If I didn't live so far away, I'd go after you myself! Thanks for all the laughs."
"Hey thanks for all the stuff on girls and relationships. I was up reading last night for like 3 hours. We had an earthquake not too long ago here in California, but man, some of the stuff you wrote shook me more than the quake!"
"I have to say, you provided several hours of entertainment for me just now. It is a great thing to know there are other people with similarly twisted senses of humor and intelligence. Thank you very much Greg Thompson, and good luck with the woman of your dreams. Should you ever feel the need to entertain me again, please feel free to do so, I'll take it any way I can get it."
"He may not have the following like many of the guru's out there, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that Greg is one of the best copywriters in America today."
"You're a very quotable man, Greg. I loved some of your bits of wisdom so much I posted them on my Facebook! It's easy to tell many of the things you say come from a place of true experience."
"Greg did work for our tour company for several years. What impresses us most about him is his ability to combine the technical know-how with the creative side of advertising to produce results faster. Instead of hiring a copywriter, artist, and web guy, we can get all of that and more in one savvy individual."
"The best thing I like about your writing is how I feel the presence of your heart among the words. You say what you mean and do what you say. I admire the authenticity of your beliefs even though I don't always agree completely."« How To Enjoy Your Life More: Part 5 – Reaching Nirvana | Home | How To Make Your Job Sound More Interesting »
How To Enjoy Your Life More Part 6: Your Deathbed Review
August 11, 2008
As the morphine drips slowly through the tubes and the blurry, smiling faces of family, friends, and old compatriots smile lovingly upon you, there will come a moment in which it all becomes vividly, unquestionably and inescapably clear:
You were in the driver’s seat all along.
The choices you made determined your path, the opportunities were always there and the ultimate direction of your life was in your own hands the entire time.
When the grand game finally comes to an end, there is nothing more disappointing than the crushing realization that you never reached for the golden ring. Missed opportunities, self-delusion, and misplaced priorities come crashing down like shards of broken glass, reminding you of what might have been.
To look back over the course of your life and to know that your days were wasted chasing after illusions and trying to impress some imaginary figure of authority who was never really there to begin with is to understand the gravity of regret.
But a sad ending is not inevitable. Regret need not accompany you to the other side. If you still have enough strength to lift a glass of wine to your lips, then you still have the strength to change.
Life is but a series of decisions, and you can decide right now to embrace the joys of leisure and pleasure that are rightfully yours. You can decide to follow what makes you happiest and allow pleasure to be your guiding light.
Hedonism is not a dirty word, nor is it an irresponsible philosophy. It is good, it is practical, and it will enrich your life beyond belief.
So before the dire day of reckoning arrives, take a moment to imagine yourself onstage for the final curtain call, and imagine what your answers will be in the Final Deathbed Review.
How did you live?
Did you laugh and play in the sun?
Did you allow yourself to be free?
Did you take chances?
Did you trust your intuition?
Did you treat yourself well?
Did you truly connect to those around you?
Did you learn to give without taking?
Did you ever let go of the pain?
Did you forgive and move on?
Did you live out your dreams?
Did you attempt the impossible?
Did you learn how to love?
Did you take responsibility for your own life?
At the end of the day, it all comes down to you. No matter what your lot in life, there are moments of joy and happiness to be had. You can go out and create them, or you can sit and wallow in a state of self-perpetuated stress and misery.
If you have a dream you should commit to it. For real.
If you find a vocation that you love and you want to be the very best, good luck to you.
But wherever your journey leads you, remember that life is not an assignment. It is an adventure that should be filled with beauty, bliss, and above all, pleasure.
To quote Ted Nicholas, a marketing man I admire and respect, he says:
“This is NOT a dress rehearsal… THIS is FOR REAL… REAL LIFE! Would you rather have the pain of regret or the pain of discipline?”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
As for me, I’m deathy afraid of the negative of this outcome happening to me. You might say it’s the only one big fear I’ve got left in me. I’m not sure if it will ever really go away.
But I know I’ve got to fight tooth and nail to keep the pain of regret away.
A fight to the death, if necessary.
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Tags: death, deathbed review, hedonism, hedonist, hedonistic, life, life lessons, living well, love, personal responsibility, responsibility, ted nicholasTopics: Philosophy | No Comments »
