+1 #714: Noli Timere

Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Optimize plus one. In our last plus one, we spent some time hanging out with my friend Kathryn Collins, who is, I am quite sure, the only human on the planet who has run a multi billion dollar mutual fund and gone to Harvard Divinity School. Who, one more time, who does that. So, as we discussed, I call Kathryn when I need divinely inspired wisdom, and she always delivers. During our recent chat in which she told me about Gloria Steinem's what can I uniquely do Wisdom question, we also talked about my Memento Mori medallion. At the end of that call, Catherine told me she wanted to send me a little gift. A few days later, I received an incredible note and a beautiful little heart shaped medallion with the Latin phrase Noli timera inscribed on it. And it's been in my pocket ever since. Again, noli rhymes with holy and time is pronounced t? Merra, heavy on the t? Noli. T? Mera. It means be not afraid. I got goosebumps just typing that. Be not afraid. In her card, Catherine said enclosed is a companion to memento mori noli time. Be not afraid. I like, she said, to think of the two together. Urgency for the preciousness of life, plus courage to pursue great things. Also the most common phrase in the Bible. How cool is that? Noli time. Be not afraid. That's today's plus one. Let's combine a healthy, grounded urgency for the preciousness of life with a healthy, grounded courage to pursue great things. Then, just to make sure we're completely blissed out in empowered wisdom, let's sprinkle in a healthy dose of gratitude for having friends who remind us of what's most important in life via their words and even more powerfully, via their exemplary lives. And let's commit to being such friends today one more time. Be not afraid. Give us all you've got, my dear friend.