Timing...

You'll have noticed, if you check this blog on a regular basis, that almost every time I post an entry I change the little image and words on the right here...

For the last few, I haven't changed the words...'It's all about being in the right place at the right time', only the image.

I'm not normally given to quoting large tracts, but this one is about timing, and I like the content:

"Jean-Marc Hachey landed in West Africa as a volunteer, with high hopes of lending a helping hand. In that sense his timing was great. He arrived in Ghana in the early 1980's in the middle of a coup d'etat, at the peak of hyperinflation, and just in time for the worst drought in a decade. For these same reasons, some people would consider his timing quite poor from a more selfish survival standpoint. He had also missed the memo. The national menu had changed, and they were out of luxuries like bread and clean water. He would be surviving for four months on a slushlike concoction of corn meal and spinach. Not what most of us would order at the movie theater.

Jean-Marc had passed the point of no return, but it didn't matter. After two weeks of adjusting to the breakfast, lunch, and dinner (Mush a la Ghana), he had no desire to escape. The most basic of foods and good friends proved to be the only real necessities, and what would seem like a disaster from the outside was the most life affirming epiphany he'd ever experienced: The worst wasn't really that bad. To enjoy life, you don't need fancy nonsense, but you do need to control your time and realise that most things aren't as serious as you make them out to be.

Now 48, Jean-Marc lives in a nice home in Ontario, but could live without it. He has cash, but could fall into poverty tomorrow and it wouldn't matter. Some of his fondest memories still include nothing but friends and gruel. He is dedicated to creating special moments for himself and his family and is utterly unconcerned with retirement. He's already lived 20 years of partial retirement in perfect health.

Don't save it all for the end. There is every reason not to."

Timothy Ferriss. 'The 4 hour work week' (Apologies Tim, I followed your advise to apologise rather than seek permission)