I just read through a collection of Steve Job's quotes, and given his terminal condition, was particularly struck by this particular one, delivered shortly after his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
And One More Thing
“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” [Stanford commencement speech, June 2005]
Those of us who are committed to the mission of Cross Currents are such change agents. The Diversity Invitational held recently here in Rochester, NY has altered the face of rowing and 136-year history of under representation in this prestigious and elite sport. Our rowing experience has influenced our own growth as individual rowers while touching other organizations locally, regionally and now nationally. We are poised to grow with our partners in USRowing's inclusion initiative, America Rows, and look forward to working with so many others who make waves and change lives every day. We must create a legacy that will always make way for the new, while respecting those who have prepared the way.
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