Well, amid the crazy news we experienced this past week, I have been looking for things that inspire me; stories from my memory worthy of a broader audience.  As war broke out in Ukraine, I was spending time with my family and that is always a lot of fun. Here are some pictures of me, Lisa, Jacquelin and Samuel, my siblings and my aunt Ricia, who is the matriarch or the Kronick clan. Thanks to my sister Dana for arranging everything.

I saw a story recently about Steve Jobs regarding the last words he shared before he died. This is apparently what was recorded:

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes my life is an epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to. At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.

You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you, but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you. Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – ‘Life’.

When a person goes into the operating room, he will realize that there is one book that he has yet to finish reading – ‘The Book of Healthy Life.’ Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.

Treasure love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends…Treat yourself well. Cherish others.

As we grow older, and hence wiser, we slowly realize that :

• Wearing a $300 or $30 watch – they both tell the same time…;
• Whether we carry a $300 or $30 wallet/handbag – the amount of money inside is the same;
• Whether we drive a $150,000 car or a $30,000 car, the road and distance is the same, and we get to the same destination;
• Whether we drink a bottle of $300 or $10 wine – the hangover is the same; and
• Whether the house we live in is 300 or 3000 sq ft – loneliness is the same.

You will realize, your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you fly first or economy class, if the plane goes down – you go down with it.

Therefore, I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth, that is true happiness!”

I have had a few friends who lost their parents recently. In light of this, what is happening in Eastern Europe and the advice of Steve Jobs above, I want to share this video on prioritizing things that was introduced to me by my good friend and colleague, Andrew Thomas. Andrew lost his mother last week and this video reminded me of something he preached often to our colleagues and clients. The story is about prioritizing things and it features the famous business productivity consultant and author, Stephen Covey, who uses a very powerful visual analogy.

Wishing you the best. Thanks for being part of this community.