With Purpose Success, part 56

It's ironic that only when he had so little time left did Nieto realize what was truly most important in life. He sees what he has been able to accomplish on the ALS front, and it is so much more satisfying than the material successes he enjoyed before. If Nieto could speak clearly now I think he'd say to everyone in shouting distance that you should live your life with urgency, as though your time is running short. Find a dream and pursue it-with determination and passion. 

Your Marriage Is NOT the Most Important 

Relationship in Your Life 

In the drought and heat of Berkeley, California, in the summer of 1991 fires ravaged the hillsides. Berkeley is a quirky and wonderful place where 

I lived from my mid-twenties to my late thirties. It's a college town filled with lots of interesting characters who are among the most highly educated and wealthiest people in the world. In their homes they have all the latest high-priced technology as well as exquisite handmade and restored antique furniture. These people are extraordinarily well traveled, and many of their homes are decorated with Persian rugs, rare paintings, and exotic tribal art. Yet as flames swept through the area, and thousands of residents were given about three hours to pack up and evacuate, almost all of these beautiful and precious possessions were left behind. 

I love this story because three hours is plenty of time to grab a few paintings or roll up a rug. Yet three hours is not so much time that you can think for a while or make a second trip. Those who were fleeing had just one shot, and they had to make up their minds quickly; they had to decide what they would get from their home and stuff into their SUV on their way out of town. Their gadgets and their fancy and expensive stuff didn't make the cut. 

What do you think they took? What would you take? In almost every case, the things piled into their vehicles were family pictures and souvenirs of interesting moments in their life. Photos and videos. These were their most cherished belongings. At the end of the day, isn't it the experiences we have, and our memories of them, that are our most valued possessions? I believe this episode offers a beautiful illustration of the importance of the close relationships and moving experiences that you have throughout your life. It is the people you have known and the special moments that you've shared with them that matter; not things. Does someone have to burn down the house for you to realize that? 

Our lives can be busy. Making a living, raising kids, and keeping the household humming require tons of energy. Sadly, it's natural for relationships, even your closest ones, to slip to the back burner. How often do you call your parents or grown children? Have you lost track of a sister or a brother? What about nieces and nephews, cousins, a college roommate, or your Best Friend Forever from high school?