require much more evidence about the training activities of the driver during the learning phase. Dennis has designed the Log Book all new drivers will be required to complete as part of their driver training. In his own way Dennis is still contributing to saving lives as I am sure this measure will achieve with licenced car drivers.
But the period since leaving hospital has not been without its dramas. At 5.00am one Sunday morning the worst possible thing happened. The computer and ELVAD machine malfunctioned. In the pre-dawn light Dennis was unable to connect the back-up system and so decided to use the last resort – a manual pump with which he physically pumped his heart.
Dennis recalls, “In practice at the hospital, two minutes was the maximum time I could operate the hand pump before becoming exhausted. But when the pressure of life and death was really on I was able to pump for 16 minutes until the ambulance arrived. When the ambulance officer arrived I shouted at him, ‘No heart compressions – just pump this.’
“The entrance to our home has a narrow door and stairway. I knew the ambulance officers were having difficulty getting the stretcher in so I called out, ‘If you just hold the door open, I’ll walk down by myself. You just keep pumping’. ”
By this time Dennis reports that the ambulance officer was starting to see the humour in the situation and started grinning as he walked to the ambulance pumping with the regulation timing. Dennis has a wonderful way of telling stories. He was laughing so much when he told me about this next brush with death, that I couldn’t help joining him. I have relayed this story many times to friends and laugh each time as I recall the way Dennis told it to me … perhaps for me it is also a laugh of relief.
This was a close call but nothing to deter a person who had simply decided to be happy in all circumstances.
Dennis’ day to day life is not necessarily easy, with a complicated washing routine which takes a minimum of one hour each day and includes sterilising his hands and cleaning his wound – a far different process from simply jumping out of bed and taking a quick shower in the en-suite before starting the day. “I wish I didn’t have to do it,” says Dennis, “But I do! …. so, I do!”
I find Dennis Ayoub’s attitude towards being happy a great inspiration and I admire him very much. I’m sure his happiness lies in his cheerful ability to reset goals and enjoy the journey.
Maybe we can all emulate Dennis Ayoub in some way – especially his attitude.
Post Script: Dennis now has his new heart and, as you would expect, he’s off again … and that’s another story.
How To “Do” This Book
This book is really meant to be a manual – a user manual to help you pick more daisies during your life. It needs to be read slowly, pausing for thought and reflection where indicated and taking the time to make lists and work with the results of your thoughts. The benefit of ‘doing’ this book rather than just reading it is that when you have ‘done’ it, you will be able to define a clear statement of your ‘Life’s Purpose Now’.
The statement you make will not be a spur of the moment thing. Rather, it will be something that comes from your heart – deep within your heart. It will be something you really want, not something someone else wants for you.
Along with your Life’s Purpose Now you will also have a step-by-step process of how to get there. You will have a plan. It will involve all your goals, supported by your values, and you will have ways of dealing with any fears and doubts that arise as a result of really going for your goal.
By choosing to pursue your true purpose in life you create energy and happiness. Sometimes your purpose can lie dormant within your spirit for many years. This book will show you how to polish your inner diamond so that all its facets can shine in splendorous beauty. Remember, it’s the journey towards your goal that brings happiness. This book gives you the tools to reach in, find your Life’s Purpose Now and create a flowing stream of happiness.
There are eight mind exercises spread throughout the book all designed to direct you towards your goals. It is necessary for you to take time and participate in these. You can do this by writing in the space provided, or by photocopying the pages and doing it that way. These exercises do deal with similar subject matter but the importance of each exercise is that it approaches the subject from a slightly different direction, a different perspective. By doing all the exercises conscientiously you will be able to identify the goals and values that keep recurring time and time again. You will find the common ground. These goals and values will include the ones most important to you.
The exercises involve processes using both the conscious and the subconscious mind. We use our mind energy, which focuses our life-force energy (this is what the Chinese call CHI energy) and in this way, you head towards a result where the subconscious mind and the conscious mind are mutually supporting each other. (It’s no coincidence that I called my seminar and book CHI – “Creating Happiness Intentionally”).
These mind exercises are:
1. Life’s Purpose – Creativity Meditation
(Subconscious mind)
2. Alone With My Deepest Thoughts
(Conscious mind)
3. Fr. Justin Belitz’s Seven F’s
(Conscious mind)
4. The Seven Questions
(Subconscious mind)
5. This is Me – Questionnaire
(Subconscious mind)
6. My Hopes and Aspirations
(Conscious mind)
7A. Why Are You Reading This Book?
(Subconscious mind)
7B. Experiencing What I Want
(Subconscious mind)
8. A Journey of a Thousand Miles
(Conscious mind)
Once you have recorded the results of all the exercises there will be a session in which you collate the results to determine what is most important to you.
The more times a similar goal has surfaced using both conscious and subconscious methods the more likely it is to be truly important to you.
Between these exercises there will be others such as meditation, reflection, silence, a walk and more. You are encouraged to do them all.
Engage wholeheartedly in the exercises in this book and think about the issues raised in your own life. Set aside time regularly to both read and do the exercises. Be bold enough to invest in yourself and “do” this book. The next couple of weeks as you read this book will be really significant. This will be a time when you can re-evaluate the big questions of where you are now, where you are going and how you are going to get there.
If you already spend time meditating or praying, do this book in conjunction with your current program.
As
