Someday, many days in the future, my memory will fade further and further away. It just will. Sadly, the erosion has already begun as modern science would quickly point out. Most humans begin to fade, memory wise, at the mid century mark. We just do. Fade, that is.
What is the last memory to go?
Kairos moments.
Kairos is a Greek word that translate to the English word, time. It means season of time. There’s another Greek word, Chronos, that also translates to the English word, time. Chronos means the measurement of time. Passing of time, if you will. Kairos moments are made differently from Chronos. Most of our time that we invest in the pursuit of the dollar, amount to chronos. Time passes, and, for many, NOT fast enough. We can’t wait for the weekend and for the chance to have our own time. Funny, huh.
Kairos moments come and go as well. They pass too. Their memories will fade as we do. However, these memories will be the last to go. We all have the big ones. The first kiss, the moment we saw our bride for the first time, the first special date, the first time we lost a friend, the death of our father, mother, or sibling, the birth of our children, the first real job we secured, the great shot under pressure that was a “once in a lifetimer,” and countless others. These memories will fade last. They just will.
Here’s the magic. You can create a boatload of Kairos moments and lengthen your memories staying power. You can. Here’s how.
Clarify your CORE. Build and design your life centered around your worldview, your identity, your principles, your passions, your purposes, and your process. You will develop strong character, competence, and an attractive culture. You just will. AND, the really cool part is that this strong CORE will give you the clarity to say yes to more Kairos moments even though your chronometer (crackberry) is telling you that you’re late and that you don’t have time for it. Like the client I was just visiting, you will choose to leave and be with your bride during her small crisis (in your mind) and you will have less regret.
AND, when you’re 90, you’ll still remember the day that the cancer results came back that her tumor was benign. You’ll still remember the time that you came home early and surprised her with your presence. You’ll still remember watching your son make his first birdie, not because he told you about it while you were in San Fran. but because you saw it happen at Shamrock.
Memory is what makes you and I HUman. Today make some that are Kairos and you won’t need to worry about the fade…
Very cool.
BUILT TO LEAD 
Chet, I’ve heard you talk about TIME in this way many times, and I’ve enjoyed the contemplation it’s triggered every time, and I was especially moved this time. My Uncle George (on my Dad’s side) went to Heaven last night. At 84, he lived longer than both his younger brothers. That always saddened him, though little else did. Uncle George lived large and loud…in a good way. He was long on passion and high on purpose. He fulfilled BIG dreams of adventurous travel with his wife and five children from the time they were still small, and gladly gave of his time, talent, and treasure as frequently and as deeply as anyone could. He touched and inspired the lives of three generations of those in his home town and throughout his industry. And, without question, his life’s celebration on Thursday will be ALL Kairos memories, and NO one will be checking their chronometers. Thanks, Chet, for yet another great post.
So I just read this having got off the phone with my kid sister. She just turned 50 on Friday.
Speaking of KAIROS memories, I was inspired last week to send her 50 from our lives together growing up. It took me about 50 minutes of reflective pleasure bubbling all of them up — and 5 minutes to put them on a card and in the mail.
It would take more than 50 pages to describe the impact on my little sister, who after all these years still looks up to her big brother. It was HUGE.
It wasn’t my idea — I got it along the way from someone else and made it part of my core. Maybe you’ll do the same, which is what “Together We Improve” is all about.