I Can Only Imagine

I Can Only Imagine

“Live every day as if it were your last. Treat everybody else as if they were you.”
-Author Unknown

Does anyone out there know who the ‘Unknown’ author is of that very profound quote? The first sentence is one we hear or read many times each year. Occasionally we spend a minute or two trying to imagine what our last day would be like and then instill that thought into our life for that particular day. But these two sentences together are just incredible. What would our world be like if we treated everyone else as if it were their last day? I can only imagine…

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Freedom

Freedom

At this time each year, a local business places a flag at the entrance to all the homes in my community. It makes me grateful to be a part of such a wonderful country. Recession or not, we’re blessed with so much abundance in the U.S. that it’s easy to understand why people in foreign lands the world over want to come to the land of opportunity, where all things are possible.

On this July 4th we owe a special thank you to all the men and women in uniform, past and present, who have put some real meaning into Independence Day. Not only have they fought and died for our own freedom, but they have also helped liberate people from tyranny all over the globe. That’s the American spirit I’m so proud of and grateful for. Hopefully one day their efforts will finally lead to a real and lasting peace in the world where we can all enjoy the beauty and wonder of our very special planet.

“For it isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work for it.”—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

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Beginning and Endings

Beginning and Endings

A few days ago I spoke with a friend who had just been diagnosed with colon cancer. Dave will be undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and then more chemo. I was a bit shocked by his attitude toward his cancer diagnosis. I could feel the energy coming through the phone as he talked about beginning this unexpected journey, a journey that would change his life forever. He was positive, strong, and seemed to have an image of wellness firmly planted in his soul.

I often wonder why the word “cancer” is associated with an ending instead of a beginning. Dave reaffirmed with me that no matter what kinds of obstacles are thrown in our path, we can make a conscious decision to label those challenges as beginnings, not endings. I’m grateful to Dave for having shared that lesson with me this week and send him heartfelt blessings as he heads down the path to his new beginning. Trust Your Journey!


“All endings are also beginnings, we just don't know it at the time...” – Mitch Albom

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Speed of Time

Speed of Time

While working on some plans for TYJ recently, I became fixated on all kinds of dates and timelines and gradually realized that time seems to pass much more quickly than when I was a youngster. Back in those days the school year seemed to drag on, to the point where I thought summer would never come. Winter seemed to fill the whole year before the first crocuses, tulips, and azaleas would show up. Being grounded for a week or so felt like a life sentence. And yet, the reality is that time is constant and only changes its speed in our minds. The most important thing I grasped during my struggle with breast cancer is that every day, every minute, has meaning. I’ve learned that this moment, here and now, deserves all of my energy and focus. I don’t glance back unless I’m looking for the lessons of life. I only look forward when it’s necessary, and I do so with great anticipation. Other than that, it’s today and every moment in it that counts most for me.

“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” –Lao-tzu

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Opposite Day

Opposite Day

Did you ever play that game as a kid? Back where I grew up it was one of the great mind games of our youth. If the boy you liked said he didn’t like you, you’d then scream out “Opposite Day!” meaning he liked you. Of course he’d go along with the game and yell back “I like you!” and you’d reply “I know.” Many of the things we did in our childhood were silly, but they were nevertheless important parts of the journey.

As an adult I still I play Opposite Day a lot, but without screaming the words. If the news says one out of four women will get breast cancer, I then say three out of four will not. If I hear that the unemployment rate is 8%, then I remind myself that 92% of us have jobs. And so the game goes on. I think it’s important to affirm daily that there are many more good things going on in this world than not. We so often get hung up on that one bad statistic, that one annoying problem, that one negative remark about us that we forget to acknowledge and appreciate all the wonderful things happening in our lives. If you feel the need to scream “Opposite Day,” don’t be surprised if someone yells back “I like you!”

“This is my life. It is my one time to be me. I want to experience every good thing.”
Maya Angelou (1928- )

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You Just Never Know

You Just Never Know

I got an email this morning informing me of the death of a dear friend, Linda Smith, who had just finished up her chemotherapy and was moving on to radiation treatment in her battle with cancer. I was blessed to have had dinner with her when I was back home in Georgia this past April. Linda looked terrific, and we spent time discussing her journey which had become focused on her ongoing fight with cancer. Linda was a wonderful lady and a dear friend to all who knew her.

You just never know when that time will come for a friend or family member to move on. So often we discuss the value of living each day to the fullest, but things always seem to get in the way of doing that. The passing of a dear friend reinforces my belief that you just never know when you might be having that last meal, that last laugh or that last smile with someone special sharing your journey. Today is a new day and a great day to reach out to all the wonderful people in your life because…you just never know.

“Many people will walk in and out of our life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” --Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

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Coach to First

Coach to First

On a recent flight I was fortunate to have a bulkhead seat in coach with plenty of extra leg room. Being six feet tall has its advantages but not necessarily in an airplane. On this flight there was a lot of activity in front of me because of the bathroom location opposite a small open area that some passengers used to stretch their legs. The one thing that caught my eye was the thin curtain between coach and first class. You could see right through it and even walk beyond it if need be.

In life we often think of ourselves as being in coach when we’re actually just a mental step or two away from first class. After years of being subjected to arbitrary and sometimes mean-spirited criticism and ego-shattering comments, especially from people in authority, we develop a tendency to shortchange ourselves and lose sight of our true worthiness and potential to make a difference. It’s up to each of us to shake off those negative inputs and get to work being all that we were meant to be in this world.

“The question is not “can you make a difference?” You already do make a difference. It’s just a matter of what kind of difference you want to make, during your life on this planet.”
--Julia Butterfly Hill (1974-) American Environmental Activist

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