Apple announced today that their CEO Steve Jobs is going on a 6-month medical leave due to further complications in his health. Here's the email Steve sent out to Apple employees about his leave.
First, I send all my prayers to Steve and his family for his healing and return to vibrant health. I'm very glad to see that Steve is taking care of himself because we are nothing without our health and no job, money, or power is worth sacrificing your wellness.
When the doctor put me on medical leave
Back in 2001, my doctor put me on a 3-month medical leave from work, and put me on the happy pills, it was a life altering time. I also had to deal with an enormous amount of depression. You really start to think about your life, where you are going, how you got to "this place" health wise, and how can you regain vibrant health once again.
Faced with your mortality you really begin to see what is most important and that is your loved ones, the quality times of happiness and laughter you have with those people, what you have given back to those people and others, and the difference you've made in the world. When faced with the end, people are always thinking about the people in their lives and the experiences that made their heart swell with love and joy.
No one will remember you wore your skinny jeans
No one, and I mean no one wishes they spent more time in the office, wishes they had more money in their bank account, or wishes that if they were thin and pretty their life would have been better. In fact, for me, I started to really look at why I spent way too much time obsessing and focused on really superficial things that will have utterly no meaning when I come to the end of my days. My grandma Rose has been teaching me what real beauty is.
When I leave this world, no one is going to remember that I wore a size 6 or 14. No one is going to remember my wrinkles, the muffin top I can't stop nitpicking, nor the outfits I wore or the car I drove. Indeed keeping our body in good shape and health is important, but it should not drive nor take over your life.
What people will remember is how I touched their lives. They will remember that someone took the time to be there for them when it mattered. They will remember that they could depend on me, trust me, and know that I loved them. People who are truly rich are those who have built up emotional, spiritual, and health currency. Money just makes your life more comfortable, not better.
Listen to your body and heart
Going on medical leave indeed was the hardest and scariest time in my life, but it set me on a better path because it helped me to open eyes, and I mean really open them. My break down was actually a break through. One of the first things I had to do was kill the "current me."
My body and soul tried so hard to get me to listen and I didn't. I just kept pushing the envelope and ignoring the signs, so finally, my body and mind broke down to force me to stop. You can avoid what I went through by listening to your body, listening to your gut, and taking the actions to make your life healthier, richer, and happier. You will never regret making those life altering decisions!
