
 |
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon With its colorful cache of purples and oranges and reds, COLLARD GREEN SLAW is a marvelous mood booster --- not to mention just downright delish
April 18, 2014
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Clarifying one of the greatest philosophical conundrums in theology
John Ericson: Trying hard to be 'positive' but never succeeding? Blame Your Brain
The Kosher Gourmet by Julie Rothman Almondy, flourless torta del re (Italian king's cake), has royal roots, is simple to make, . . . but devour it because it's simply delicious
April 14, 2014
Rabbi Dr Naftali Brawer: Passover frees us from the tyranny of time
Eric Schulzke: First degree: How America really recovered from a murder epidemic
Georgia Lee: When love is not enough: Teaching your kids about the realities of adult relationships
Gordon Pape: How you can tell if your financial adviser is setting you up for potential ruin
Dana Dovey: Up to 500,000 people die each year from hepatitis C-related liver disease. New Treatment Has Over 90% Success Rate
Justin Caba: Eating Watermelon Can Help Control High Blood Pressure
April 11, 2014
Rabbi Hillel Goldberg: Silence is much more than golden
Susan Swann: How to value a child for who he is, not just what he does
Susan Scutti: A Simple Blood Test Might Soon Diagnose Cancer
Chris Weller: Have A Slow Metabolism? Let Science Speed It Up For You
April 9, 2014
Jonathan Tobin: Why Did Kerry Lie About Israeli Blame?
Samuel G. Freedman: A resolution 70 years later for a father's unsettling legacy of ashes from Dachau
Jessica Ivins: A resolution 70 years later for a father's unsettling legacy of ashes from Dachau
Matthew Mientka: How Beans, Peas, And Chickpeas Cleanse Bad Cholesterol and Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
April 8, 2014
Dana Dovey: Coffee Drinkers Rejoice! Your Cup Of Joe Can Prevent Death From Liver Disease
Chris Weller: Electric 'Thinking Cap' Puts Your Brain Power Into High Gear
April 4, 2014
Amy Peterson: A life of love: How to build lasting relationships with your children
John Ericson: Older Women: Save Your Heart, Prevent Stroke Don't Drink Diet
John Ericson: Why 50 million Americans will still have spring allergies after taking meds
Sarah Boesveld: Teacher keeps promise to mail thousands of former students letters written by their past selves
April 2, 2014
Dan Barry: Should South Carolina Jews be forced to maintain this chimney built by Germans serving the Nazis?
Frank Clayton: Get happy: 20 scientifically proven happiness activities
Susan Scutti: It's Genetic! Obesity and the 'Carb Breakdown' Gene
|
| |
Jewish World Review
March 13, 2014 / 11 Adar II, 5774
Getting satisfaction
By
Cal Thomas
JewishWorldReview.com |
Every year we are subjected to lists. Forbe's magazine lists the world's wealthiest individuals. Time magazine lists the most "influential" people, though real influence is difficult to define or quantify.
What I've never seen is a list of satisfied people, much less stories about how they attained satisfaction.
Arianna Huffington is trying to fill that gap. One of the world's biggest Type A personalities, Huffington, who launched The Huffington Post in 2005 and whose picture appears alongside celebrities, politicians and business icons, is now asking a question popularized in an old song by the late Peggy Lee: "Is that all there is?"
In her latest book "Thrive: The Third Metric for Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder," Huffington says her definition of success began to change after a fall in her Los Angeles home in 2007, caused she says, by exhaustion and a lack of sleep.
She re-thought the meaning of a good life and found it to be something quite different from how it is portrayed by pop culture. The pursuit of money and power, she writes, didn't satisfy after she had acquired a considerable amount of each. In fact, she says, these twin demons harm bodies, minds and relationships: "There are still millions desperately looking for the next promotion, the next million-dollar payday that they believe will satisfy their longing to feel better about themselves, or silence their dissatisfaction."
One sentence I quickly underlined: "Have you noticed that when we die, our eulogies celebrate our lives very differently from the way society defines success?" It's true. Think of the number of funerals you've attended. How many of the eulogizers say the departed one wished he had made one more phone call, or closed one more deal?
| RECEIVE LIBERTY LOVING COLUMNISTS IN YOUR INBOX … FOR FREE! |
| Cal's and many, many more. Sign up for the daily update. It's free. Just click here. |
|
Part of this -- and I believe it to be a large part -- is that culture, including the media, are less focused on people with good character qualities and work habits. The White House staffer is lauded for working 18-hour days and weekends. Working harder too often means working longer, as if the two are equal. I recall a prominent ex-network newsman who was once denied the anchor chair because management didn't like him taking a little time off to watch his son's baseball games. He didn't get the anchor chair, but he has the love and respect of his son. Which is of greater value and pays more dividends?
It's not that Huffington's conclusions about life and what matters most haven't been written about before. As she points out, the ancient Greeks debated these things centuries ago and one can always consult such books as "Ecclesiastes," whose author reminds us, "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income." (5:10) There is also the story of the Prodigal Son who wasted his inheritance on riotous living and finally "came to his senses."
Every generation has had individuals who call upon people to push the pause button, or even the stop button. Unfortunately there is no rewind to life. But we can start over from where we are. In "Thrive," Huffington, who is at the top of her game, offers an off ramp to those headed at top speed in the wrong direction.
I am regularly reminded of what truly matters from the mouths of children. Last weekend, my 3-year-old granddaughter looked up from her dinner plate and spontaneously said, "I love you, Poppa." It takes the investment of time to earn that kind of love. No boss can give it; no career can satisfy like the love of a child, as yet uncorrupted by the world.
"Thrive" isn't about giving up. It's about priorities and true satisfaction. It can improve any life. Mick Jagger take note.
• Cal Thomas Archives
Please send us your feedback. It's appreciated
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
© 2014 Tribune Content Agency
|
|
Columnists
Toons
Lifestyles
|