The powerful wisdom of Tecumseh

Living a beautiful life based on 12 sentences of wisdom.

I just completed a 31 day, 5,000-mile road trip from the US midwest through the southwest, to the California coast, and then back. It was an incredible, life-changing experience. You can read more about the first leg of the trip, and my “double rainbow moments”, here.

The trip itself is part of my Midlife Process Year, where I’ve taken a year off work to avoid a midlife crisis.

As my trip progressed, I found one of my favorite poems brought to mind over and over. It has most often been attributed to Tecumseh, a chief of the Shawnee tribe during the early 19th century.

I stumbled across it about 10 years ago and it hooked me. I am inspired every time I read it. I have copied it by hand many times in an attempt to better internalize the timeless, simple wisdom. Here’s the poem:

“So live your life that fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or sign when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.”

I think there is a great romance for life within those words.

Simple, aspirational, decision-based. Decisions I make about my life. For my life.

Love my life. Be grateful. Respect others and know that respect is my due. I am responsible for my life and for seeing the beauty of this world. Be of service to others. Value connection with others. Death is not something to be feared.

As always, the difficulty comes in the implementation. Living “as if.” I have plenty of work to do.