Queen Elizabeth’s amazing life cannot just be measured in years. Although she lived 96 of them, 70 of which she did on the throne.
It cannot just be measured in the breadth of leadership. Although she saw 16 British prime ministers and 14 US presidents serve during her reign.
And it cannot just be measured in experience. Although she witnessed the rise of Hitler and the Second World War, the entirety of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the fall of the Berlin Wall, the invention of the internet, the dawn of the information age, and the growing threat of climate change.
What seems most meaningful is the way she lived her life: with courage, dignity, and passion, and with a commitment to service.
When someone passes away, our natural inclination is to look backward and take stock of that life.
And, in honor of the passing of an extraordinary life, I ask you:
What are YOU doing RIGHT NOW to lead YOUR extraordinary life?
You and I are not kings and queens. But we are living, breathing, embodied potential.
Queen Elizabeth led a stunningly incredible life with a powerful legacy.
So do you.
You have the potential to:
Act
Love
Contribute
Develop
Support
Inspire
Envision
Travel
Touch, taste, smell
Celebrate
Create
And whatever else you have buried inside you just waiting to arrive.
Steven Covey famously reminded us – in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – to “begin with the end in mind.”
Can you envision YOUR life when the final chapter is written? If you can’t … or haven’t in a while … now is the time.
So, sit back. Pour yourself something cold.
And think about what kind of life you would feel proud living when your end has come. Think about your life in all of the majesty (whatever that means to you).
And know that courage is the key to unlocking it.
If I Had My Life to Live Over by Don Herald
“I’d dare to make more mistakes next time.
I’d relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I’d
have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I’m one of those people who live sensibly
and sanely hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I’ve had my moments and if I had it to do over
again, I’d have more of them. In fact,
I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments.
One after another, instead of living so many
years ahead of each day.
I’ve been one of those people who never go anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat
and a parachute.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot
earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter next time.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.”
