Saturday, April 29, 2006

Bono and Master Po

Today I was reading in my Bono book because I couldn't find Creating Customer Evangelists (I think somebody stole it at the PUG meeting and I don't blame them - it's amazing) ...
anyway...Bono was talking about meeting Nelson Mandela and he said that what makes Nelson Mandela so different is,

"His imagination. His ability to see, taste, and almost touch a future that wasn't yet there. Most people in his situation would have focused on what they had lost - the past. He's only thinking about the future."

I really want to be like that... but it also reminded me of a quote from my favorite TV show growing up - Kung Fu - when Master Po said,

"If a man dwells on the past, then he robs the present. But if a man ignores the past, he may rob the future. The seeds of our destiny are nurtured by the roots of our past."

I think it's a fine line and a balance that we need to keep in our lives. Do you think you spend more time dreaming and planning for the future or trying to learn from the past?

9 comments:

J@KE said...

Gosh!!!! you just went all philosophical on us now didn't ya!!! That's really deep!!!

I think honestly I do both but probably more future dreaming than dwelling on the past; but I've learned from the past soooooooo I don't know.

Is Master Po pronounced "poo" or "poe"? lol.

J@KE

Liana said...

oh wise DJ-San

Great post. I'm an eternal daydreamer, so I'm always looking to the future. But I also like stories, and the past is full of the good and the bad ones, mostly ones we learned from. The best part is when you daydream aloud and somehow the next thing you know, it's a reality.... :)

Dawn Davis said...

A little of both...and a lot of time in the present with my family! After all, the present is what we live in everyday! And well, family and blessed health... way more important than anything else!

climbergal said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
climbergal said...

"The past is history, The future is a mystery and now is a gift. That's why we call it the present". -Unknown

Thanks for the post. It is a fine balance. I tried to live in the present, but then got too caught up in it at one point, the future became very blurry. I'm back on the right track and still very much living in the present, but with regard for the future and having learned lessons from my past. Have you ever read the book, Be Here Now by Ram Dass? It's probably not your typical reading list book, but an interesting read.

brittany leigh said...

nice post David. hope all is well on your end. haven't heard from you in a while. just wanted to say hi. talk to you soon.

brittany leigh said...

I"M NEVER IN SB? look whos talkin mr!! lol. how is everything? life and work good?

|| davidjay || said...

Seriously - I miss you - I'm actually around a good bit this next month so let's get together! Those pics on Mike's blog are awesome!!!

Rob Larson said...

Check out "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. It's an amazing book dealing with this 'fine line' (past, present, future) that you talk about.

cheers,

rL