Chapter 1 Live Life For All It's Worth Thank God for death. If it weren't for death, we'd probably all wait forever and never get to the point. But because we don't have all day, so to speak, life grows urgent. If we want to get to the heart of it, we do have to get to it, and not waste time fiddle-diddling or complaining. I remind myself of this as-yet non-negotiable item in life's contract whenever I feel less than excited to be, say, standing in line at the supermarket or upside down awaiting still another prostate biopsy. To live life for all it's worth, to die knowing you gave and got all you could, that's really worth figuring out how to do, don't you think?, and sooner rather than later. Not just to live life for much of what it's worth or most of what it's worth, but for all it's worth. Everyone wants to do that. Or come as close as they can. Before I say more, I feel obliged to provide you with another image to displace your image of me upside down waiting for my prostate biopsy, so think of this one instead: think of yourself, heading into work. How do you feel? Or, think of yourself, heading home. How do you feel? Or think of yourself, waiting for your biopsy. How do you feel? The message of this book is that you can and should feel great to be alive in all those moments and all others. Even if times are hard, as long as you are living life to the fullest, you are in love with life. And if you are in love, you feel great, even when you are in pain. Excerpted from Shine: Using Brain Science to Get the Best from Your People by Ned Hallowell All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
