Live life to the fullest!...

And Then Some Saturday Essay by Richard L. Weaver II

Essay #12 from And Then Some Book 1: Essays to Entertain, Motivate, and Inspire.

Live life to the fullest! Seize every minute of it, and never give that minute back until there is nothing left of it .

You often hear comments like “Sue has a passion for what she is doing,” or “Are you passionate about this issue?” And the reason you hear such responses is because people who pursue their passion in life tend to be powerful, positive, proactive, and purposeful.

Passion is an intense overpowering emotion. As I began college, mine was to go into medicine, until I had to take a required speech course. Those in the pre-med curriculum had no use for, interest in, or identification with this hurdle we had to jump to complete our coursework.

The assignments, activities, and enthusiasm of a dedicated and committed speech instructor hit a chord that changed my life. To follow my new passion—becoming a speech major—required taking more courses, being in college longer, and making major decisions that would affect the rest of my life. For me, this was a bold and risky move.

William James said, “Compared to what we ought to be, we are only half awake. We are making use of only a small part of our physical and mental resources.” When was the last time you did something bold? When was the last time you grabbed life by the tail and took a risk? When was the last time you turned down an opportunity to play it safe?

If you have been lucky enough to follow your true passion—utilizing the gifts and talents you’ve been given—you know what “being alive” means. Life is wonderful; life is exciting; and life is bringing rewards and opportunities you may never have dreamed of.

Making the right choices has valuable and worthwhile benefits. It generates tireless energy. It keeps you on track. It keeps you moving towards following your gifts and talents.

Finding your passion makes you look at life differently. There is a love there that motivates you to do the best you can and to learn as much as possible about your chosen field.

When you find and follow your passion, too, your life doesn’t seem wasted; your life has a meaning and purpose; and despite difficulties and adversities, you are optimistic, and you always know that what you’re doing is the “right thing.” Your passion comes from within, and you know it’s right.

How do you find your passion in life? Ask yourself, what’s the ultimate drive in your life? What do you get excited about? What do you love to talk about? When you talk about it, do you radiate with enthusiasm? If you were to announce to the world, “For me, living is . . . ,” with what would you fill in the blank?

The key ingredient to being passionate about life is—loving what you do. Just having a goal or a plan is not enough. Academic preparation is not enough. Prior experience is not enough. Passion and productivity are Siamese twins in these fast-paced times.

First, decide the kind of person you want to be—and do something today to make it true. The Air Force core values offer worthwhile standards: integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all you do.

Everyone can do better in some area of life. Take an inventory of your life and decide where to make positive changes then live that life.

Second, focus on what you want to give, rather than on what you want to get. Many people think backwards. They think happiness comes from having things instead of living a life of significance.

Instead of setting a goal of how much money you will make, set a goal for how much money you will give. Instead of setting a goal for attaining promotion, set a goal for what you could do to make yourself a more valuable member of society. The difference is a matter of focus.

Third, and finally, look for lasting significance in all you do:
• It may seem insignificant, but time spent with young people may result in a youngster hearing something life-changing.
• It may seem redundant, but sharing an insight, discovery, or perception with another may result in their increased knowledge or understanding.
• It may seem useless, but time invested with fellow workers, family, and friends is never wasted.

There are no throw-away moments. Every day matters. Look for the lasting significance in your work, your relationships, and your actions. Seize the day! Be a sponge for knowledge!

What is passion? Passion is the attitude of life that makes a person shine. It’s what people see that is special about a person when he or she walks into a room. Whatever you do in life should be done with the passion of a summer kiss, of a joke with multiple punch lines, of a brisk, refreshing walk.... Passion makes a difference.

In the late Erma Bombeck’s column “If I had my life to life over...?” she concludes, “There would have been more of ‘I love you...,’ more of ‘I’m sorry...,’ but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it. . . look at it and really see it . . . live it . . . and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.”

And what of the passion in my life having switched from pre-medicine to speech? It resulted in over 30 years in the college classroom and lecture halls, more than 30 college textbooks (counting all editions), 19 speeches published in Vital Speeches of the Day, 14 essays published in The (Toledo) Blade, and close to 100 published academic articles.

When you are aligned with what feels best for you, you create an inner sense of joy and happiness. Your actions are based on enthusiasm. The key is allowing yourself to feel joy and enthusiasm often and continually. Energy attracts energy. Suppressing your natural expression is to suffocate that energy that attracts abundance and prosperity. Live life to the fullest—seize every minute of it, and never give that minute back until there’s nothing left of it.
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© Copyright 2007. All rights reserved worldwide by Richard L. Weaver II and And Then Some Publishing, L.L.C.

No part of this essay, except in brief quotations embodied in reviews, may be used or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Richard L. Weaver II or the publisher, And Then Some Publishing, L.L.C.---or, in the case of photocopying, electronic duplication, or other reproductive copying, a license from the United States Copyright Licensing Agency---is an infringement on the copyright law. The best way to obtain copies of the essays is to purchase the book /And Then Some - Book I: Essays to Entertain, Motivate, and Inspire/ (And Then Some Publishing, 2007).