Thoughts on Rebirth Day

November 22 is my Rebirth Day. That is the day I nearly died in St. Croix (if you don't know the story, go to TheLedgeBook.com). That day is with me all the time, guiding me in making decisions and being much more grateful for what I have in life. (If you want to read the post on my blog site, or save it for later, go here)

Here are 22 thoughts for Rebirth Day, 2024.

1. cherish The Hug. Rose and I make sure we have a 10-second minimum, fully present, strong hug every day. May you find someone to do something similar with each day.
2. I feel deep gratitude that I am able to enjoy my two grandchildren, both born this year. I was so close to not being able to do that.
3. Live each day as if it might be your last. It could be, even when you don't have any reason to suspect it might be. Trust me on this one.
4. People are a lot nicer and better than you think if you take the time to get to know them and understand them a little better.
5. The worst problem you are having today is probably not nearly as bad as you imagine.
6. You can spend a lot of time fussing over politics, religion, and differing viewpoints held by others. Or you can realize that everyone's experiences are different than yours, and that is what makes them different from you. The first is a waste of time. The second is living.
7. Ask more questions rather than making declarations about what you think to be true. You'll learn more and people will open up to you.
8. Make Moments Matter. You never know the impact you can have on someone else with a small gesture of acknowledgement or kindness. It will also make your day just a little bit better. Over time, those good feelings compound.
9. Embrace the plateau. All growth is not linear. There will be times when you feel like you are making no progress. That is the plateau. You are consolidating your learning in preparation for the next growth spurt. A plateau is part of progress, not a signal you are stagnating.
10. Rose and I have 10 people in our immediate family (4 children, two daughter in-laws, two grandchildren, and us). They bring joy to us daily. 10 blessings.
11. If you are unhappy, it is probably because you are trying to be something that does not align with your core. Your values will guide you. Think about what is most meaningful to you and pursue that.
12. If you do what others tell you that you should do, you'll probably do a good job living what they think is the best life for you. That definitely won't be the best life you want to lead.
13. Read a book. Make that two. Reading is still one of the best ways to learn, to entertain, and to stimulate your mind. Here are two recommendations: Doable Change and The Ledge and The Abyss.
14. If you don't know your neighbors, change that. Paying a little attention to the people you might see the most in your day-to-day existence seems like the minimum we should do.
15. Set aside time weekly just for you. Spending time doing something that brings you true joy is something you deserve. Make sure it is something active, even if you are simply paying attention to something more intensely.
16. I love to plan things out. I have learned that I need to plan idle time for myself. Simply doing nothing is a chance to discover a little more about yourself. It's not lazy. It's not procrastination. It's time for self reflection.
17. Don't become dependent on delivery services to do all your work for you. Too many Amazon, Door Dash, Uber, and Kroger deliveries take away from the chance to interact with someone else. If you don't want to do it for yourself, do it for others. You can be the one smiling, appreciative customer they encounter today.
18. If you are on social media for more than an hour a day, stop. Find something else to do with your time.
19. Evaluate the reasons you do the things you do. Sometimes you might find out it is an "excuse" rather than a "good reason".
20. Make acquaintance with people of different generations from you. Everyone needs friends. You will learn about a lot of different people. You might just make a difference in someone's life.
21. Find something to be grateful about today. Maybe one of the reasons I am still alive is that I can remind people to be grateful. I'm happy to do that.
22. I am eternally thankful for the 22 people most closely aligned to my still being alive. The six rescuers (Karl, Devron, Ben, Jason, Malik, and Shumba), four-person helicopter crew (Travis, Billy, Beau, and Curren), two people who called 911 (John and Amie), two people in the 911 Command Center (Daniel and Karen), two doctors (Lacey and Lauren), two respiratory therapists (Amanda and Grace), and four nurses (Cadira, Amber, Steve, Kristen). Our lives intersected on a couple crazy days. Without them, I am not be here. I am lucky to have those people in my life.