Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 14, 2011, at 2:10 AM, Saibaba SV <[email protected]> wrote: > > I am glad to share one of the wonderful mails received by me. Please read > till the end. > S.V.SAI BABA > > > inspirational story to remind us to keep a balance in our life. We hope you > find words of wisdom in this story written byby Catherine Pulsifer.- Mary and > Susan were friends for years. They grew up together and attended the same > schools. They were now both in their 40's, and both had great careers. They > both had a similar upbringing - same education, same family values, similar > support and financial position. But there was one main difference. Mary never > seemed to have enough time. She watched her life long friend Susan. She had > similar responsibilities and interests. Susan had a career, she had three > children, she had her hobbies, one of which included golf. Over lunch, Susan > was telling Mary about the golf game that she played last weekend. "Susan, > where do you find the time to play golf?" asked Mary. "I never seem to have > the time, now with the children older and doing there own thing I thought I > would have time to play golf like we did when we were in college." Susan > looked at Mary and laughed, "Mary, we both have the same hours in a day. You > do have the time to play golf!" With a sigh Mary replied, "That's easy for > you to say. I never seem to have time. My work takes so much of my time. I am > in the office at 7:30, I leave at 6:30 in the evening. By the time I get home > and have dinner, it is 8:00! And, then I usually have a briefcase full of > work. The weekends are full of more work. Just to keep up, I have to put in > the hours. You know what it is like!" "Of course, I know what it is like," > Mary said. "But what would happen tomorrow if you got sick? Who would do the > work?" "Sick. Who has time to get sick! exclaimed Mary. "But if I did get > sick, someone else would do the work, I suppose." > "You know something, Mary, I used to be like you. I worked night and day and > of course on weekends. When I got home I was exhausted but I would push > myself and read my children a bedtime story. By the time I went to bed, I > would be more than exhausted. The boss I had was very demanding. She was > there early in the morning, late at night, and she always worked weekends. I > felt I had to do the same - I needed the job to help support my family - just > as you did. But then I had a change of bosses. The man I worked for was older > and much wiser, I might add! Of course, I continued to work the hours I had > been working. One day he came to my desk and passed me a card that had a > quote on it which said, 'What I do today is important, because I will never > have today again' - then he left. > > I sat there stunned. I suddenly thought of what was important to me. While my > work was important, I realized my children were more important. I also > realized that time for me was important. It was 4:30, the official closing > time of the office. I straightened my desk, felt a twinge of guilt about > leaving, but I forced myself to leave. I was home by 5:00. My children and > husband were surprised. I had a wonderful evening. It was not a chore to read > that bedtime story that evening." > Mary was looking at her friend thoughtfully and then questioned Susan about > the work she had left on her desk. > > > Susan replied, "I never thought this possible, but I actually accomplished > more the next day then I had in weeks. As I was leaving the next day I > stopped at my new boss's office and thanked him for the quote. He told me a > story about advice his dad had given him many years ago when he was working > night and day. He referred to it as 'Balance of Life'. His dad told him to > keep balance in his work, in his family life and in time for himself. He > explained to me, while all aspects of our life are important, without a > balance, you become addicted and like all addictions you lose - no balance > with your family - you lose them no balance with your work - you lose your > perspective and you actually lose focus on the important aspects of your job. > - no balance with yourself - you forget who you are and when you retire you > have nothing! Or worse than that, if you lose your job through a company sale > or downsizing you lose your identity. > He went on to tell me that who we are is NOT what we do to make a living. Who > we are is a balance of our family, our work, ourselves! It truly was the best > advice I ever received." > > > Mary took a drink of her tea and tearfully looked at her friend, "But I would > never get my work done if i left at 4:30!" Susan looked thoughtfully at her, > "When you go to work on Monday, look at what you have on your desk. Make a > list of everything you have to get done and beside that list write the impact > of not doing it. Then focus only on the top three items that have the most > impact. Do that everyday for a week. At first, you will find it difficult to > leave. But, after awhile, you will find that you will have more energy, and > you will be more focused in your work because you have BALANCE! There are > times when we have to lose balance - a special project at work, or a family > matter at home - but consciously focusing on balance keeps everything in > check." > Mary smiled at her friend, "Thanks for talking with me. We have been friends > for so long. Thank heavens I have balance with your friendship! You have > convinced me. I will leave the work in my briefcase this weekend. On Monday, > I will make the list first thing. Perhaps next weekend, I will have the time > to go golfing with you!" > "Balance of Life" - important for us ALL! > > > >
