Editor's Note: Author and inspirational speaker John O'Leary will give the keynote speech at UMHS Graduation on Friday, June 5, 2015 at Lincoln Center in New York City. The following article is an excerpt that originally appeared in Parade Magazine and is being reprinted here courtesy of John O'Leary, Rising Above and Parade Magazine.
By John O'Leary
“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” – Socrates
How full is your life?
We work hard – at the office, in the gym, in our volunteer efforts – to be happy. We work to give those we love a bigger, better life than previous generations. And it would appear to be working! Considering:
- In the 1950s, the average television had a 10” black and white screen and sometimes got reception for both channels. Today, the average size of a TV is around 40”, is HD and doesn’t even require an antennae to receive more than 100 channels.
- In the 1950s the average home size was 932 square feet; today the average home is more than 2700 square feet.
(Photo, inset right) JOHN & BETH O'LEARY: Author & inspirational speaker John O'Leary (pictured, with wife Beth) will speak at UMHS Graduation at Lincoln Center in New York on Friday, June 5, 2015. Photo: Courtesy of John O'Leary/Rising Above
Perhaps the most jarring comparison is the amount of storage units in the world. In the 1950s there were no storage units. None. Zip. Zilch. Today, however, we “enjoy” more than 50,000,000 storage units that contain the “stuff” that doesn’t fit in our homes that are three times the size they were 60 years ago!
By all material accounts, we are better off today. We have more luxuries than our elders could have imagined. We have more health, wealth and longevity that at any other time in history. But we also have higher rates of depression, anxiety, stress and disengagement.
So what does this tell us?
Real happiness comes not from getting what we want but celebrating what we have.
If we are forever chasing after stuff, we miss moments. If we are pursuing things, we miss people. You don’t need to quit your job, sell all your possessions and move to a remote location free from material things. But what if you did take one moment today to focus on gratitude for what you have rather than what you don’t? And then what if you do that tomorrow, too?
The greatest joys aren’t purchased; they’re discovered. And they are often discovered right within this moment; if only you opened your eyes and paused long enough to really see them.
So pour yourself into life. Work hard, strive boldly. Set goals. Achieve them! But don’t forget to celebrate and be grateful for what you already have. That, my friends, is to live inspired.
What is one thing you can celebrate in your life today? Take a moment to discover it – and then share in the comments below.
For more information on John O'Leary, visit http://johnolearyinspires.com/
John O’Leary is an internationally acclaimed speaker and expert on inspirational living and overcoming adversity. At the age of nine, John was expected to die. Today, he teaches others how to truly live. John has spoken at more than 1,000 events for clients such as Southwest Airlines, LEGO, Northwestern Mutual and the Colorado Rockies. John is the president of Rising Above, a lifestyle organization built to empower you to: live inspired. Beyond inspirational speaking, Rising Above offers live and web-based inspirational coaching programs and events. John’s first book will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2016. Take John’s "Spark! 21 Day Challenge" to ignite your possibility here: http://johnolearyinspires.com/spark/
Follow John O'Leary on Twitter: @RisingAboveJohn
Like John O'Leary's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JohnOLearyRisingAbove?_rdr
Rising Above by John O'Leary ©2015
(Photo, inset right) John O'Leary. Photo: Courtesy of John O'Leary/Rising Above
(Top photo) John & Beth O'Leary with their children. Photo: Courtesy of John O'Leary/Rising Above
About UMHS:
Built in the tradition of the best US universities, the University of Medicine and Health Sciencesfocuses on individual student attention, maintaining small class sizes and recruiting high-quality faculty. We call this unique approach, “personalized medical education,” and it’s what has led to our unprecedented 96% student retention rate, and outstanding residency placements across the US and Canada. UMHS is challenging everything you thought you knew about Caribbean medical schools.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
