Today is the 1st Day of the Rest of Your Life

Each day we have the opportunity to make the most of ourselves and our lives. We can choose to regret the things we did in our previous days or even lament those things that we wish we had done. We all make mistakes as we navigate our journeys. We say and do things we would like to take back and we fail to say things that could have made a difference or encouraged others around us.

?My message today is to live in the present with a focus on how we can enjoy today and bring out the best in ourselves and others. This isn’t just a positive thinking message. It is about choosing to see things in the most positive way because of how much better life can be when we choose to see good.?When we choose to see good, we actually seek good in our lives. “Good” has a way of finding us.

I read and hear people saying how much worse the world has become today. Do you realize that people were saying the same thing when I was very young and just becoming a young adult? Each generation has characteristics that others seem to believe are the worst yet. I remember the older generation when I was in my 20s often suggested that our generation all felt entitled and did not need to work hard to achieve success and promotions. That was hard for me to understand and accept because I enjoyed working hard and so did most of my closest friends and business associates.

Today, I see greatness in the generations coming along. Sure, there are challenges and things we see differently. Perhaps we need to look for the best in the generations we see coming along??My children range from late 20s to early 40s and I am so proud of the kind of people I see them becoming and how hard they are willing to work. I see similar traits in many of their friends and peers. I see how good they aspire to be. Sure, they see and do things differently than I did, but they are helping me to gain a new perspective in life. I have 7 grandchildren ranging from a few days old to 16 years of age and I am learning and seeing life a different way through their eyes. Is that such a bad thing? I don’t believe it is bad. I believe it is part of the circle of life.

?As one of my heroes once shared with me, “When we look for the best in others, we discover the best in ourselves.” My hero who became my Mother-in-Law, Gladys Heath, was the first person to share those words with me. Her powerful perspective still shapes my view. Gladys always had words of encouragement to share in a life-changing manner. She was soft spoken yet carried herself with dignity and confidence; she was very kind and thoughtful. She spoke with intention and was one of the wisest, most inspirational people I ever met. She lived her words every day, so she set an amazing example for all of us who had the chance to get to know her. She was a gift to many of us that we still miss and yet she is with us through her words and actions.

I met Gladys in 1991 when I was 32 years old. ?We met shortly after I met her daughter Elizabeth. At the time Elizabeth was already my closest friend who would become my wife. I knew Gladys was special from the first time we met. When I was around her, I always wanted to be at my best. We all did. She wasn’t loud or an attention seeker. She gave you, and others, her undivided attention. She was the least judgmental person I think I have ever met. She put you at ease very quickly and helped you see the best things about yourself and about virtually everyone else you encountered. She always found a way to see and say things in the most positive way. It seemed so natural to her to be full of joy that she shared in a loving, sincere way. I should have known I won the lottery because I soon discovered that her entire “Heath family” were very much the same way. Her legacy lives on through those she touched.

?As we travel through life, we have opportunities daily to share goodness with one another. I have learned in my journey that our way of life is a choice. Good people do not necessarily live easy lives. Gladys’ life was cut much too short due to heart disease, but her memory is a cherished part of my life. From my view, her example will influence other generations for years to come. They may not even realize the source of the life lesson that Gladys taught us, but she never needed credit for helping others. She did it because it was the right thing to do. It was who she was in life. She chose wisely and helped others to make wise choices too.

I encourage you to do “your thing” in your world and with those people you can influence. My hope is that your thing will include seeking and seeing good in others. I believe when you do that you will discover the very best in yourself. Remember, it starts with a choice. Today IS the first day of the rest of your life. Choose wisely. I believe in you. Jim