All About You: Cherish every moment

EDITOR’S NOTE: Motivating employees to work safely is part of the safety professional’s job. But who motivates the motivator? In this monthly column, veteran safety pro and professional speaker Richard Hawk offers his entertaining brand of wisdom to inspire safety pros to perform at their best.

“Memento mori” is a Latin phrase with a long and varied history. Translated, it means, “Remember you must die.”

Although it may sound morbid, and indeed some traditions have considered it so, many – including the Stoic philosophers – believed it was a positive thought. I know I do.

In the 17th century, memento mori paintings became popular. I have one on my office wall. It shows a beautiful flower, a human skull and an hourglass. It depicts life, death and the inevitable passing of time.

Why does “memento mori” inspire me? Because it’s a reminder that I should cherish every moment of my life – I only have so many. That’s why every day I try to do these things (the list is longer, but 10 is all I can fit here):

1. Be grateful for what I have. That doesn’t mean I don’t strive to reach goals and make money, but I make a conscious effort to appreciate and enjoy what I’ve already got.

2. Realize that today is as important as any other day. Too often, we think, “I can’t wait until the weekend,” or “Once I retire, life will be perfect.” How is today any less important than a day when you’re retired? It isn’t.

3. Love nature. I just got a cockatiel. Her name is Sofie, and I’m still hand-feeding her, which is a delight. I’ve had numerous pets, gardens, aquariums and various indoor plants, and I regularly walk in the woods. Interacting with nature soothes your mind and is a beautiful way to make your moments precious. It’s a potent stress reliever, too.

4. Have fun at work. This month, I’ll be giving a few talks to teens in my area about their upcoming careers. I’ll describe what it’s like to be a safety and health professional and speaker, but I’ll also encourage them to have fun at work and explain how I’ve done it. The best moments I’ve had while working, even at nuclear power plants with strict rules, were when my colleagues and I enjoyed what we were doing and had fun.

5. Practice mindfulness. This practice has been perhaps the most crucial skill I’ve honed, which makes my moments special. Even when things aren’t going as you wish, paying attention without judgment makes life a pleasure.

6. Enjoy listening. When I’m with another person, I want to listen to what they say more than I want to talk. This skill hasn’t been easy to learn because I sure can talk! But now that I like to listen, I’m excited when I meet someone new and when co-workers and friends have stories to tell.

7. Cherish the arts. Music has been a powerful influence in my life. (I was a guitar teacher for a couple of years before I got into safety). I’ve recently intentionally appreciated photography and paintings. Art in all its forms can make a mundane moment into something captivating and even awe-inspiring.

8. Make other people’s moments special. When someone smiles or laughs because of my words or actions, I benefit as much or maybe more than they do. Rather than judge others, I prefer to see what I like about them and compliment the person. I have found this makes every day I’m with others uplifting for them. Another way I do this is by giving out finger puppets when it seems right. I’ve been doing it for more than 25 years.

9. Don’t worry. This is the hardest for me of the 10 I’m listing. One thing that helps me worry less is to review the outcomes I’ve worried about that didn’t happen. Mark Twain once said, “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”

10. “Amor fati.” Here’s another popular Latin phrase. It means “love of one’s fate.” Remember: You only have so many moments to experience, so why not love each one?

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