Amen, Dyke! (Had a little Grey Goose myself last night, actually!)
Recently I’ve been helping a friend and colleague, Dr. Bernard Harris, write a book about his experiences. You may have heard of him. He’s an endocrinologist educated at the Mayo Clinic, a former Air Force pilot, flight surgeon, and a NASA Astronaut with two space shuttle missions to his credit. He was also the first African American to “walk in space.” These days he is a popular public speaker, venture capitalist, and philanthropist, who spends a lot of time talking to high school kids on something he calls the “Dream Tour,” a kind of traveling motivational show that he’s put together for disadvantaged youth. (Yes, he has also established his own youth foundation with the help of Exxon Mobil.)
Bernard told me he’s a fan of the philosopher Eckhart Tolle, and asked me to include something about his work in the book. Here’s what I wrote:
One of my favorite authors is the contemporary philosopher and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle. His book The Power of Now has made a lasting impression on my life, and his most basic teaching is, I believe, something everyone, and certainly every astronaut, can use to improve their daily lives and their ability to achieve success, particularly in complex, daunting endeavors. It’s simply this: Live in the present. Remember that the past is over and done. The future has not yet happened and is certainly not under your control. All you have, and all you will ever have, is the moment you are living right now.
A quote from this excellent book helps to drive the point home:
“Accept – then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.”
When you really think about it, this is wonderful advice. All daily living, whether it’s conducting a business meeting, driving your car from your home to your job, managing your personal finances, even surviving the cold in outer space, is all about accepting what happens at any given moment and working with it to produce the best outcome. Late because you’re stuck in a traffic jam? Relax… listen to some music or the news, call your appointment and re-schedule, smile and sing your favorite song out loud and remind yourself how good it is to be alive in this moment on this day. When you learn to react to adversity by always accepting it and moving forward toward a solution, you will never get “stuck” in a loop of self-defeating fear and pain.
Best to all ‘66-ers for a great summer!
Jim Myers
