Zooming Out

Last year, I attended my grandfather’s funeral. He had ninety good years, always surrounded by family and beaming with laughter. At his memorial service, people shared funny stories. There was that time he performed in Laughlin with his retirement community as the Andrews Sisters, and the three elderly men in dresses waltzed through the casino. There was the time when, in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, he tapped his cane to the beat of a musical while complaining, “this singing is shit!” There was the time he convinced his grandson to write on a school assignment that he wanted to pick up money poop at the zoo when he grew up. Everyone talked about his kindness, his humor, and his endless love for his family. We all laughed as we celebrated his life.

My grandfather had many accomplishments during his time as an executive at big telecom company. None were mentioned at his memorial service. He likely has failures and shortcomings, as well. Again, none we mentioned.

The death of a loved one helps put life into perspective, as does prolonged illness. We may realize that getting caught in the rat race or sweating over the small stuff isn’t the path to a fulfilling life. It’s far more meaningful to focus on our most critical priorities in life, and let go of the little things.

That’s what I’ll be talking about today on The Heart of the Matter.

In life, we often allow ourselves to become overwhelming by the little things without realizing their insignificance in the grander scheme. Those small annoyances us won’t even be remembered hours, days, or weeks later. Instead of dwelling on minor incidents and letting them ruin your day, consider the big picture, and allow your broader, wiser perspective to shape your outlook.