When the Bell Tolls

What will the bell sound like when it rings for the final time? 

Will it sound like your mother’s dinner bell calling you home from play one last time? 

Possibly it will sound like a school bell ringing to dismiss students before an endless summer. 

Perhaps it will sound like your alarm clock going off in the early morning ushering in your last waking hours.  

Maybe it sounds like the ringside bell summoning the boxer back for one final round. 

What if it sounds like the New York Stock Exchange bell signaling the closing of another day of trading on Wall Street? 

Or it could sound like an old-fashioned telephone ringing, carrying the call of a long lost loved one?

Could it sound like the brass bicycle bell that you pulled with your thumb as a kid, riding down your street with the wind in your face without a care in the world? 

I like to think that it sounds like a Zen master sounding his tingsha bells before a never-ending meditation.  

No matter what it sounds like, whenever you hear a bell, let it serve as a reminder that you have one precious life to live.  Once the final bell tolls, there is no turning back. 

Memento mori.

Greg Graber is an internationally respected leadership and mental performance coach who helps teams, schools, organizations, and individuals thrive under pressure. With a foundation in mindfulness-based practices, Greg teaches people how to stay grounded, focused, and resilient in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.

His practical, science-backed approach has made him a go-to expert for elite performers across industries — from professional sports and education to healthcare, hospitality, and law enforcement.