(Friday Filosophy 8/04/23)
Happy Freakin’ Friday!
Greetings from Sacramento, where I'm conducting a leadership conference. You'll be delighted to know that I wrote an amazing essay for you today: a deep dive into critical thinking and some of the possible dangers it can lead to – if you move from skeptical to cynical, and from cynical into the realm of conspiracy theories. You'll have to wait until next week to read it, however.
Because a note arrived in my inbox that changes the plan…
It's not the first note like this I've received and likely won't be the last. It is from someone that reached out to me in a troubled time two years ago. I dropped everything to be there and listen. I did my best to listen, share some thoughts, and afterward I asked them to read an issue of this newsletter. This week they wrote back to share that, after the conversation and essay, they backed off on the suicide they were contemplating. They decided to give themselves some grace, rang up AA, and accept their abundance. They wrote now to thank me for being two years sober and on the pathway to their highest possible self.
This made me think that there might be a few more of you that could benefit from the essay or know someone else you feel moved to share it with. Back then, the newsletter wasn't reposted on the blog, so I've copied it below.
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| “Friday Filosophy” 07/30/2021 |
| Happy Freakin’ Friday!
Here’s my weekly dispatch to you, exploring a subject that I’m thinking about – a subject you may want to think about as well. And what I’m thinking about right now is ten.
Not the number ten, but the people that number represents.
The other day I was scrolling through my contacts and got jarred when the name of a friend who had recently died popped up. I tried to access a good memory of him then deleted the contact. As I went through the list, there were ten people in all, who made their transition within the last two years or so.
Ten.
Three by suicide. Two from Covid-19. And five others by accident, cancer, or some other degenerative disease. Not one of them died from natural causes. Which somehow would have made the loss seem a little less sad.
Each of these ten people should have had more time, but they didn’t. So, I decided to do a celebration of their lives, all by myself…
I brewed some green tea, lit some candles, laughed a little and cried a lot, as I reflected on their lives, allowing their memories to be a blessing.
This all reminded me of how much closer the horizon in front of me is, as opposed to the one behind me. But of course, you and I never know when that horizon is going to jump up on us. So please make the most of this day, this moment.
Laugh more.
Give compliments.
Share a hug.
Let someone know you love them.
Love yourself.
Be curious.
Learn something new.
Send flowers to someone special. (Including yourself.)
Challenge yourself.
Challenge others.
Accept your abundance.
Strive to become the highest possible version of yourself.
Thought of the Day:
Don’t let who you have been prevent you from who you can become.
ICYMI, my other work this last week…
On PROSPERITY TV:
Turning Prosperity Dreams into Reality |
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Peace,
- RG
Previous Post: Wins and Losses
Prosperity TV
I don't mean to be flippant or insensitive Randy, but jeez 3 out 10 suicide?? You know a lot of super depressed people? Guess I'm lucky, never had friends or family take themselves out.. can understand why it's so devastating for the survivors.. I love life too much, know the feeling of looking down towards the end though.. got a b-day next week.. hit 63, but I'm looking forward to goin to Seattle, eating some great seafood and see Rod Stewart in Vancouver. He's 78 and still rockin.. love life and have some fun! cheers Napa David
In answer to your question, I'm in the LGBTQ community and unfortunately there are a lot of people with many mental health issues. Many have been told their whole life, even by family sometimes, that they don't belong, are flawed, or don't even deserve to live.
Gotcha, je compris.. a few years ago I said here how much I love Dan Savage's Savage Love column on his common sense to sex advice and his wicked sense of humor, he once wrote, you couldn't be more of a sucker if your head was wrapped in cellophane and you had a stick out your ass.. but one time a gay guy wrote in and asked, why are we gays so fucked up? And Dan wasn't having any of it, wrote, this isn't a birthday party where you got all your friends telling you how wonderful you are. it's a rough and tumble world out there and while I'm not denying it's a lot tougher to be gay in a hetero world, it's still no excuse to say, oh I'm gay, that's why I'm so fucked up.. cheers Napa David
What an incredible reminder Randy to celebrate and appreciate each other daily.
Thank you
Don’t let who you have been prevent you from who you can become...
This hit me hard. Thanks Man. Really appreciate knowing you