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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN

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Fully Appreciating Life

It didn't take long to figure out that I'm an extrovert. I am sometimes shy around large crowds of strangers, but I love to be around people. I enjoy conversations -- face-to-face, on the phone, or even via the internet. I love to watch from the sidelines and observe what's going on around me. Then I like to ask myself what lessons can be learned from what I've seen, heard, and thought. Last week was ripe for such experiences.

The war in Iraq was on everyone's mind as well as the radio and television air waves. There were mixed reports of victories, surrenders, losses, and anarchy. As we speculated about the ultimate outcomes and responsibilities, conversations ran the gamut from hushed expressions of fear and disbelief to exuberant rally cries for victory.

Meanwhile, Hospice of San Juan trained some new volunteers. Subjects such as compassion, ethics, confidentiality and quality of life were broached in conjunction with conversations about client care, end of life wishes, and various spiritual beliefs. Participants began taking a hard look at some very complex issues.

On Thursday a radiant, gray-haired grandmother shared her story of being a Holocaust survivor. Quiet weeping and audible gasps from the audience accompanied her tales of adversity after being taken from her home in Hungary by the German soldiers. What left the crowd speechless, however, was her counsel about hatred and lack of forgiveness being a prison nearly as devastating as the Nazi death camps.

Looking back over the week for lessons, I realized that life is precious, but easy to take for granted. The realities of war, atrocities, hatred, and even the natural process of dying brings us face to face with our own mortality and the need to be understanding, forgiving, and compassionate with ourselves and others.

  • What lessons have you learned from recent reminders about death?

  • Do you view life differently now than you did in the past? If so, how?

  • Have fear, hatred, and lack of forgiveness held you captive?

  • What will be your next step toward fully appreciating life?

© 2003 David Bentley

David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world.

You may contact him at 360.378.8436

by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com

or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com

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