Attention

One of the last things I read were words that said, “your life is no more than the sum of what you give your attention to.”  The point was being made before that that who we are is the sum of our experiences from birth to death.
I find myself agreeing with that thought.  I know who I am is the result of plenty of stuff.  There are things I had to do because someone in authority told me to (a lawful command), and other things I have done that I wanted to do.  There have also been things I did not necessarily want to do but did because they were necessary to achieve the end I had in mind.
Whatever was my motivation I know that I did it, and who I am some sixty something years later is the result of many smaller decisions made along the way.  Some seemingly have little impact - like making up a story involving sword fights with a mate as a kid.  Others are life changing and alter the whole direction of my life – like coming to Brisbane or becoming a Christian.
Whatever the case I think the author is on to something.  When I look around, I see people living out their dream, simply living, or complaining their dream was denied.  I see others, and myself, doing things they have been glad to do, and other things they wish they had never done.
I am not sure where I saw it but someone talked of something like doing a life eulogy rather than a death eulogy.  That was suggesting to me I write on how I perceive others perceive me.
That is a bottom line sort of thing.  It matters more to me my impact in life rather than my im-pact in death.  The purpose of such a eulogy is to make the changes as necessary.  I know there is coming a day when I cannot make any changes.  Until then, if I want to change anything, I know I have now to work with.