22. STEVE JOBS’ LAST WORDS ABOUT LIFE, HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND LOVE
“Treat yourself well. Cherish others.” -- Steve Jobs
Apple's founder Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer as a billionaire at 56 years-old.
Here were his last words on the sick bed:
"I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others' eyes, my life is an epitome of success.
However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to.
At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.
In the darkness, I look at the green lights from the life supporting machines and hear the humming mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of god of death drawing closer…
Now I know, when we have accumulated sufficient wealth to last our lifetime, we should pursue other matters that are unrelated to wealth…
Should be something that is more important:
Perhaps relationships, perhaps art, perhaps a dream from younger days.
Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me.
God gave us the sense to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought by wealth.
The wealth I have won in my life I cannot bring with me. What I can bring is only the memories precipitated by love.
That’s the true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on.
Love can travel a thousand miles. Life has no limit. Go where you want to go. Reach the height you want to reach. It is all in your heart and in your hands.
What is the most expensive bed in the world?
Sick bed…
You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you.
Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that never be found when it is lost - life.
When a person goes into the operating room, he will realize that there is one book that he has yet to finish reading - Book of Healthy Life.
Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.
Treasure love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends.
Treat yourself well. Cherish others.”
Steve Jobs also said,
“As we grow older, and hence, wiser, we slowly realize that -
· wearing a $300 or $30 watch - they both tell the same time;
· wherever we carry a $300 or $30 wallet/handbag - the amount of money inside is the same;
· whether we drive a $150,000 car or a $30,000 car, the road and distance is the same, and we get to the same destination;
· whether we drink a bottle of $300 or $10 wine - the hangover is the same;
· Whether the house we live in is 300 square feet or 3000 square feet - loneliness is the same.
You will realize, your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world.
Whether you fly first or economy class, if you plane goes down - you go down with it..
Therefore, I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth with… that is inner happiness."
I strongly echoed to Steve Jobs’ last words.
Meaning of death to me personally
The meaning of death came nearest to me on 6 December, 2015.
My beloved mother had a lethal fall causing head injuries at home on that early morning. I carried my mom in my arms into the car, then drove her to emergency room at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM).
I was at her sick bed praying to God, talking to her, comforting her. She was already in coma. She couldn’t hear me. But I saw her tears flowing down her cheeks.
I experienced exactly what Steve Jobs had described on his sick bed, “In the darkness, I look at the green lights from the life supporting machines and hear the humming mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of god of death drawing closer…”
The only difference was that the breath of god death was drawing closer not to me, but to my mom.
At 17th hour on the same day at 5.41pm, I watched helplessly with my own eyes as the humming mechanical sound on life supporting machine turned into flat tone. I cried out desperately for mom.
Flat tone…. and I lost my dear mother forever.
My life was God-given and my mom carried me in her womb and delivered me to this beautiful world. I promised her on her sick bed that I would take good care of my dad, and I would live my life to the fullest and cherish others. That’s the least I can do to thank her for bringing me to this world.
And ever since my mom’s sudden death, Steve Jobs’ last words on his sick bed have created even more impact in my life. His last words have become constant reminder to me on how I should live the rest of my life without regrets.
I hope Steve Jobs’ last words on his sick bed can reveal to you how you should live your own life as well.
SECTION 5
Life after Retirement:
Health, Happiness, Gratitude, Being Significant
“If you have health, you probably will be happy. And if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it’s not all you want." -- Elbert Hubbard
F I L L
Financial Independence, Live Life
achieving financial independence from 9-to-5 job before 50
