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Minnesota State Association of Parliamentarians (MSAP)
Welcome to the Home Page of the
Minnesota State Association of Parliamentarians!
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
How's your life going so far? Hopefully, pretty well. Regardless of how far along in life you're at, I'm sure you often reflect on it regularly: where you are, where you're going, and which decisions you will make going forward. I know you're not there yet, but imagine yourself at the age of 95. Looking back at your life, how will you view it?
With the help of a surveyed group of current 95 year-olds, here's their synopsis of "if you had your life to live over again, what might you have wanted to have done differently?"
In summary, here's what they said:1. I'd have risked more
2. I'd have reflected more
3. I'd want to do something more that extends beyond myself (leave a legacy).
* (See footnote for source accreditation)
For the purpose of my article, let's focus on items #1 and #3 first.
Risk more: Regardless of what happened, good and bad, these people lived a full life to age 95. What they're telling us is that, whatever the obstacles, life continues, but regrets of the things we could've done remain with us. Their 20/20 hindsight reveals that they wished they had done more of the things that they'd only dreamed about.
Leave a legacy: Find your purpose, embrace it, and work at it every day! But leave a lasting reminder, big or small, for everyone of why you were here: the people you befriended, the enemies you forgave, the kids you raised, the students you taught, the philanthropy you provided, the groups you were a member and/or leader of, the ideas you suggested and implemented, the inventions or techniques you created, the letters you wrote, the songs you sang, etc.
Reflect more: Clip this. Copy it. Share it. Look back on it and plan your life going forward with it.
Fellow parliamentarians, as you've read this far, thanks for reflecting with me. Thanks for being a vital part of our group. Join us for the upcoming fall conference on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Lakeside Homes. Format is the same, but speaker presentations are more diverse, unique, and motivationally-structured. Tell a friend. Come for the good food, education, and friendship. You won't regret it.
Michael L Orr, President
Minnesota State Association of Parliamentarians
*(Source: American Society for Training and Development, paraphrased from presentation by Dr David Brueshoff, professor at Crown College to a Winter seminar of the Twin Cities Life Office Management Association)
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