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June 18, 2005
How ephemeral all this is
My last day in London was spent in bed, hardly able to eat, drink or even to stand up. I woke up early Friday morning thinking I had food poisoning, with all of its glorious symptoms (certainly more than you need to know). I called my Associate Julie (Daniel) to cancel our day together, and she said that there was a 24-hour virus going around London, schools closing, etc. Sort of a relief, that I probably wasn't going to die, nor sue the restaurant. But, having been blessed with a relatively healthy life, I was reminded how easy it is to take for granted the instrument we're walking through this game with (body); and how puny all the issues (as well as the inspirations) can be, when we're up against it, physically.
I remember reading several years ago about Success Magazine's poll of their readers, asking them to vote for the criteria for success. #1 at the top was, yes, good health.
I won't say I had a near-death experience (though I thought there were moments); but I did get to be reminded at least briefly of the state of consciousness in which nothing matters. That can be existential hell or a window into deeper priorities. I don't want to sound too dramatic, but as I make my living in a world of positive ideas and practices, with inspiration as a medium, it was an humbling reminder of my own vulnerability and the value of being able to have a body in good enough shape to be tuned to those frequencies. As I've said many times, perspective is the slipperiest and most valuable commodity on the planet. But health is a close second.
Gratefully I'm getting back to the world of the living now, managing to get on planes and get to Toronto this evening. Hopefully though I won't forget too quickly how grateful I ought to remain, just having the energy to wonder what to say...
To lose one's health renders science null, art inglorious, strength unavailing, wealth useless, and eloquence powerless. - Herophilus
Posted by David at June 18, 2005 05:15 PM
Comments
David,
Have been reading your blog for a few weeks now and have been praticing GTD for several years. Hope that you are feeling much better now. There is nothing like an awful illness of some kind to remind us how fragile we are.
Posted by: Jim Martin at June 18, 2005 07:22 PM
Jim,
Yes, I'm much better now, thanks. And in a strange way, more relaxed. These things sometimes cause us to unhook from axles we didn't know we were wrapped around, I think! - David
Posted by: David Allen at June 19, 2005 05:33 AM
David,
If we ponder a little more, your experience actually demonstrates a higher need. Not to diminish the pain and suffering that you went through in any way, but consider that it was a brief episode in time. Now consider the impact of someone facing cancer or some other chronic medical condition, and how it alters all perspectives (their own and all of their friends and family).
Your post reminds me to extend just a little of my time to help those in need. I would like to see a GTD volunteer team that might be able to lend organizational expertise to non-profit medical groups. Imagine the power of this system applied to some volunteer teams trying to make a difference…I know that I would volunteer and that “Great Things Do” happened when we lend a hand.
Enjoy your work,
Greg
Posted by: Greg at June 19, 2005 07:44 AM
David,
Good to read you're feeling better. On a lighter note, I bet your body taught you new meaning for the concept of "Next Actions" (big smile).
Thank you for your never ending inspiration and wishing you the best of health.
Dean A.
Posted by: Dean at June 19, 2005 08:28 AM
"Remember, if you don't have your health, you don't have anything"
My grandmother's favorite aphorism was the subject of her grandchildrens' jokes, and may have been wasted on us at the time, but now it rings true.
Her other oft-repeated aphorism: "when you're tired, you should rest."
She lived to her 90s.
Time for a Fathers Day nap...
Julian
Posted by: Julian at June 19, 2005 08:58 AM
So sorry to hear you were so wretchedly sick.
Posted by: Robert at June 19, 2005 11:39 AM
Read this quote from Noah benshea on the Starbucks site. I thought it fit with your perspective, David.
"Often the most important thing we can do is what we choose not to do. Often the best way to pick up speed is to put on the brakes. The best way to get where we?re going is to be where we are.
The Japanese say that when you are in a hurry go slowly. For all of us in a hurry, the Sabbath is a time, to slow down and make cosmic progress. Take the time before times takes you."
Find more at: http://www.starbucks.com/retail/thewayiseeit_featuredauthor_benshea.asp
Blessings,
Gordon
Posted by: Gordon at June 19, 2005 12:42 PM
See Epictetus on this:
http://www.constitution.org/rom/epicdisc3.htm#3:10
Posted by: Avi Solomon at June 28, 2005 07:10 AM
David, I'm glad you recovered.
"Perspective is the slipperiest and most valuable commodity on the planet. But health is a close second." I disagree. In order to have perspective, we need enough health to be able to think clearly. If you lose all perspective, but keep something of your health, you can get another chance. If you have a perspective, but lose all your health - there's nothing left! Game over! So I think health has got to be the top priority, above everything else, until we have enough health to gain perspective on our next priorities...
Posted by: Just Visiting at July 31, 2005 05:10 PM
The above written article is very interesting one and it reminds me of my tour to England, When I got a chance to visit UK few years back. It was a life long learning experience and I enjoyed a lot.
Posted by: Mcgill at August 20, 2005 08:28 AM