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Fr Paddy: Summer … A time to rest

Sunshine

Despite all the bad news, regarding huge queues and cancellation of scheduled air flights, it is still wonderful that Dublin International Airport, enjoys a return to full and active business, this summer.

After over two years, living in confinement and restriction, so many Irish families seek liberation and warmth as they make preparations for their annual summer holiday.

A recent swim in county Wexford brought with it rich memories of my childhood and our late father bringing us out to sea, to swim with him.

As schools have now closed for summer holidays, I pray that the weeks ahead, will be a time of relaxation and family peace. We all know the importance of road safety and indeed water safety.

May God bless our annual summer holidays, with health of body and Peace of Mind. May God’s angels watch over and protect us all. The brightness of summer nourishes our souls to hope, to be replenished and renewed.

Our search for that peace and spiritual joy brings us hope and consolation. Recently a friend, suggested that I read a small but most insightful gem of wisdom and knowledge, called, “Who will cry when you die”.

This book is born out of our human need for validation, dignity and purpose. In a time, when the burden and pain of hopelessness and anxiety is felt by so many, this book offers tremendous encouragement and hope. Nuggets of wisdom fuelled by spiritual values that help us all to live better lives.

Would you like to replace that empty feeling inside you with a deep sense of peace, passion, and purpose? Are you hoping that your life will not only be successful but significant?

Are you ready to have the very best within you shine through and create a rich legacy in the process? If so, this potent little book, with its powerful life lessons and its gentle but profound teaching can transform and point us in a more positive pathway through life.

The first time I heard about Robin Sharma, was through his writings. A local librarian recommended me to read his book –‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’.

It was one of the best books which I have read. All of Robin Sharma’s books have been published in 60 countries and in 70 languages.

This makes him one of the most widely read authors in the world. His books have been highly successful in Japan, Spain, England, Dubai, Mexico, Singapore, Turkey, and Puerto Rico and throughout South America.

His website ‘www.robinsharma.com’ is one of the most popular personal development destinations on the internet.

‘Who Will Cry When You Die’ is a wonderful book to read. Rather than calling it a book, I call it “wisdom for the journey” or “101 tips for living life fully”.

The beauty of this book, is that every chapter can be read independently and you don’t need to worry whether you start from middle or end or the beginning. The chapters too are very short ones and can be even read in 10 minutes break.

It has got gems of tips which can be practically used in day to day life and can enhance quality of life in a much profound way.

Though all chapters are worth reading I would like to point out some of the chapters which did appeal to me personally more out here.

One such chapter is ‘Honor Your Past’. The reason this chapter appealed to me was because I consider past or rather failures in past being biggest obstacles for humans to become what he/she is capable of becoming.

Quite often we regret events or things which have happened in the past and rather than looking at it in a detached way and learning from it, we spend too much energy on reliving the painful memories of the past.

Instead of honouring your past, we tend to analyse and over analyse.

Another chapter is titled ‘Spend A Day Without A Watch’. When I first saw the title, I was like ‘how is that possible?’

Mobile phones and watches are things without which many of us can’t live without but as I looked back I could see that as a child I was not concerned with time and as I grew up deadlines started ruling me. Of course valuing time is extremely important but one can always spend a day without a watch. Isn’t it?

There is also a chapter called ‘Practice Forgiveness ‘. Easy to say but difficult to practice. Forgiveness sets two souls free. It is not an act of obliging someone, it is rather an act of obliging one self. When forgiveness is practiced genuinely, it is FREEDOM…Try it.

Lastly the most important chapter, is titled ‘Write a Legacy Statement’. Why this is most important is because while writing the legacy statement, one would become conscious about what he/she stands for, what are the core values that one respects and what are his/her priority to start living accordingly.

“Push yourself to do more and to experience more. Harness your energy to start expanding your dreams. Yes, expand your dreams. Don’t accept a life of mediocrity when you hold such infinite potential within the fortress of your mind. Dare to tap into your greatness.”

― Robin S. Sharma

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