IMPORTANT: Learn as if you were going to live forever

“Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi.

These few words profoundly changed my life…

15 years ago I was teaching and coaching leadership development for a global organization in Beirut, Lebanon.

I wanted to share my story with you today…

The first time I came across this quotation was on this little card that was placed upon my pillow as part of the turn down service at the Mövenpick Hotel & Resort, Beirut, Lebanon.

It was the evening of 12 July, 2006. For the previous two weeks this hotel had been my home and workplace as I delivered a Leadership development program, to middle and senior leaders of a Global Organization. I’d been blessed to experience the culture and friendliness of the people.

On my final evening at the hotel, there was a fashion show being held. The place was buzzing as I turned in for the night. I went to sleep to the sound of a firework display at the resort. Early the next morning I left the hotel and flew back to the UK.

When I landed at Heathrow Airport, my phone was full of concerned voicemails and text messages – everyone was worried about me… Don’t worry we’ll get you out of there!

I checked the news to find that I’d actually flown out of Lebanon only a few hours before there had been Israeli airstrikes across Beirut destroying the airport, lighthouse and four bridges along the coast road. This was the same road I had walked only a few days before, where I’d watched families playing on the beach.

A war had begun there…

Bombing continued to destroy the city and surrounding areas for many days. The firework display that I thought I’d heard was actually gun fire in the hillside outside Beirut! I had been extremely lucky to get out early that morning (others were stranded, caught in the crossfire for over a week before aircraft carriers rescued them).

My thoughts instantly turned to the welfare of the people that I had trained. I frantically sent emails to check that they (and their families) were okay. Fortunately they were all safe and had taken refuge outside of the city.

Danger, uncertainty and fleeing to the hillside were a normal part of their life. It certainly wasn’t normal for me and this experience created a shift in my thinking. For the first time, I’d witnessed the fragility of life and the importance of Living On Purpose.

I remembered this little card placed on my pillow the night before I left Beirut:

“Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.”

This suddenly held more meaning to me.

I realized that nothing lasts forever…

We are in constant flow throughout our lives from the moment we are born to the moment we die (and possibly beyond!). Change and uncertainty go hand in hand. This is even more true today, as we continue to navigate the COVID pandemic…

Whether it’s a civil war, a global pandemic or you’re transitioning into a new role, playing a bigger game or wanting to show up differently in your life, the perceived threat, whether physical or psychological – the future can feel uncertain and scary…

Change isn’t always easy…

Sometimes it’s chosen, sometimes it’s forced upon us. However it presents itself, we are called to adapt and rise to a higher level of Being.

It’s normal and natural for people to associate change with negative words such as uncertainty, pain, loss, suspicion, worry, anxiety and self-doubt. It makes us feel disoriented and threatened.

Change can also bring possibility, expansion, opportunity and growth (both personally and professionally). Learning and growing is the key to life…

We’re all born with a love of learning – sometimes this is hard and it’s easy to stop growing and stay stagnant. When this happens life feels like it’s being ‘done to you‘ – like you have no choice.

When this happens, carry this with you instead: What am I being called to learn just now? What is this teaching me? How is this calling me to grow?

Life is a great teacher if you stay open and curious. Our brains continue to grow and create new neural pathways into old age. So learning is lifelong!

This quotation became my mantra. And I still have this little card today. I brought it with me when I moved from England to America…

Whenever I’m feeling scared, stagnant or stuck – this little card reminds me to keep growing…

Keep learning and growing… Learning is infinite!

Is there something that you’ve always wanted to do but you were afraid to do it because you’re scared that you might suck at it? NOW is the time – make a plan and make it real.

Live your life to the fullest! It’s fragile and short..