LESSON OF THE DAY 448

Ayahs of the Day:
And whatever there is, its sources are with Us, and We only send it down according to determined measure. And We send the fertilizing winds, and shower water from the sky and let you drink it, though you are not its keepers. [15: 21,22]

Hadith of the Day:
A sense of shame will make anything more beautiful, whereas obscenity will make anything more ugly. [Bukhari]

Wise Quote of the Day:
The one who longs for Allah is blessed with limbs which are free from stains of sins. [Ahmad Masruq]

Guidance of the Day:
So many of us live our lives as if the secret purpose is to somehow get everything done. We stay up late, get up early, avoid having fun, and keep our loved ones waiting. Sadly, many people who put off their loved ones so long that the loved ones lose interest in maintaining the relationship. Often we convince ourselves that our obsession with our "to do" list is only temporary--that once we get through the list, we'll be calm, relaxed, and happy. But in reality, this rarely happens. As terms are checked off, new ones simply replace them.

The nature of your "in basket" is that it's meant to have items to be completed in it--it's not meant to be empty. There will always be phone calls that need to be made, projects to complete, and work to be done. In fact, it can be argued that a full "in basket" is essential for success. It means your time is in demand! Regardless of who you are or what you do, however, remember that nothing is more important than your own sense of happiness and inner peace and that of your loved ones. If you are obsessed with getting everything done, you'll never have a sense of well-being! In reality, almost everything can wait.

Very little in our work lives truly falls into the "emergency" category. If you stay focused on your work, it will all get done in due time. The purpose of life isn't to get it all done but to enjoy each step along the way and live a life filled with love, it's far easier to control the obsession with completing the list of things to do. Remember, when you die, there will still be unfinished business to take care of. And you know what? Someone else will do it for you! Don't waste anymore precious moments of your life regretting the inevitable. Remind yourself that when you die, your "in basket" won't be empty. [Don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff]

Food for Thought:
The unfolding of your affairs is always imminent, but the arrival of death is even moreso.