I’ve never looked at each day as a gift before. Each day I viewed as simply one to get through so that I could get to the one I was actually looking forward to.
It sounds horrible to say. But that was how I lived. I think most of us do.
I never viewed each beautiful and marvelous day as a gift. No, I actually dreaded most days. For years I dreaded 5 out of the 7 days of the week.
I’ve also never viewed each day as a new creation. I carried the past into each new day. It followed me around and brought with it all the old regrets and frustrations.
The same stuff that I could never seem to shake.
I thought I had to carry the past with me. I never thought to learn from it and let it go. I wanted it with me. It felt good and safe to dwell on my pain.
I never heard about living in day-tight compartments before. I never heard about looking to the day I am facing as a brand new day and live just till bedtime. You can do anything till bedtime, you know?
I have never experienced such joy and freedom as I have since I have chosen to face each day as a gift, an opportunity, a piece of my life. As a day to grow and learn. As a day to be treasured.
Every day is a new life to a wise man.
Question: What can you do to view each day as a gift?
Your statement “You can do anything till bedtime” is an amazing truth. It’s very similar to the idea of 20 seconds of insane courage can change your life.
To view each new day as a gift, I can stop reliving the past. I’ll replay events over and over again and it overshadows my today. For instance, one time my wife and I went to the movies and we parked in the parking lot of our favorite candy store since it was across the street. When we exited the movie, there was a note on the truck saying that parking lot is only for the candy store. I put off returning to the candy store for probably a month because of that.
That simple note held me back from living in the present. Weird huh?
Joe,
I love that… “20 seconds of insane courage can change your life!” haha, have you experienced this for yourself? 🙂 I think Michael would have when he went skydiving…
I guess Joshua Chamberlain would have when he against all odds raised his sword and said “charge” instead of “retreat” (we have been listening to Andy Andrews’ book “The Travelers Gift so I have that story on my mind)
O boy… I totally relate to your story of the candy store. I’ve relived that scenario a million times in my own life…So did your desire for more candy help you overcome your fear? 🙂
I love how starting over with each new day gives me such freedom! Freedom to live today!
Claudia,
I have. There’s been many experiences in my life where 20 seconds have changed it. One was telling/asking my wife to marry me. It wasn’t romantic and it was something I felt needed to be said. So I got the courage up and said it. Thankfully she said yes.
And Michael has been skydiving? That is awesome I went for the first time last year and it blew my mind. Total rush. How did Michael enjoy his jump?
Yes, eventually we returned to the candy store and everything was normal. Their grizzlies were much too good to resist even though it took a month or two before we worked up the courage to go back. Sad thing is, they probably didn’t even know it was us.
Joe,
I actually went bungie jumping, not sky diving. It was on a trip to Europe with two friends. It was very cool!
We jumped out of a cable car suspended between two mountains in the Swiss Alps 400′ above a lake. Think I actually blacked out for a few seconds because I didn’t remember the first second or two of the jump.
Sky diving is on my bucket list. How high where you when you jumped?
Michael, that sounds quite exciting. That’s crazy you might have blacked out. Do you think it’s from the initial rush or what?
Bungie jumping is something I have thought of doing but have had huge reservations. Maybe one day.
We were 10,000 feet up or about 2 miles. The speed with which you fall is insane. Within a minute you’ve already dropped a mile. We were in a beautiful area and dove over a house designed by Andrew Lloyd Weber.
The only problem is it happens so quickly. It seems like you just jumped out of the plane when you touch the ground. But well worth it!
Sounds awesome!
Yeah, I don’t know for sure, but those first few seconds were really a blur. I think it was just from the shock and rush of a free fall.
I’d do it again and I bet the second time I’d remember it better.
Most likely. Then again it probably didn’t take long for the bungie jump to completely finish.
No, it didn’t. Not more than a few seconds. The cord is super stretchy so it tightens probably half way down and then stretches from there.
You think bungie jumping would be scarier than sky diving? I thought it’d be the other way around.
I do think bungie jumping is scarier. Maybe it’s all the horror stories I’ve heard of stuff that has gone wrong.
Horror stories? Hadn’t heard any of those before I jumped. Good thing or I probably wouldn’t have done it. Either that or I wouldn’t have remembered ANY of the jump!
Haha, yeah… Things like the cord snapping, the cord getting wrapped around the jumper, or the cord being too long…
o boy… bungie jumping, sky diving…
I wonder if guys like doing riskier thinks than girls… ????
I think it’s something God created us for. To take chances and do daring things.
I’ve got two great “risky” things happening this year. White water rafting and ice climbing up frozen waterfalls.
I think so too Joe! Wow, sweet! Adventure makes the heart quicken with life!
Joe,
haha that is so true! They probably DIDN’T even know who you were… unless they study their customers cars. I think not though 😉
What is a grizzlie?
Claudia,
I know! But it’s weird the fear that enters our minds and makes us do weird things.
And a grizzlie is one of the most awesome candies you could ever imagine. It’s like a turtle but instead of pecans they use cashews. And these things are HUGE. Probably weighing in at half a pound to a pound. Pure heavenly bliss is what I call em (-;
That is sweet! hahhaaa
That is cool that you have a local candy shop to start with.
ya, fear does make us do weird things. I guess we are always seeking to avoid pain and seek pleasure…
Claudia – I love how you express so simply such deep insights. Each day IS a gift and a new creation! God’s mercy is new every morning – so that tells me whatever happened yesterday was covered and I have a new supply for today! I have always tended to let mistakes and stupid small things linger and bug me. Something as stupid as taking a coupon to the grocery store for an item on my list – and then forgetting to use it would bother me for days! (I know – pretty sad – but that was a long time ago). I have learned to just say, Oh well – next time, and move on.
Ann,
Thanks!
Oh I can really relate to what you said here! My mind goes CRAZY replaying all the things I should have done! And I beat myself up over it!
I love how you’ve learned and changed and are able to move on!
You are a beautiful, wise lady Ann!
The journal I started helps me break down the day and it seems that I have a tendency to pull out the positives and down play the negatives when I write. I am not sure why, but I am going to keep doing it.
Mike,
Interesting!! Maybe because it takes more effort to write than talk so you pull out the positives and leave the negatives go… hmmmm, either way… awesome!
I like how you said “I’m not sure why, but I am going to keep doing it…” I love this mysterious part to us as human beings 🙂
this is so good!! love it.
Thanks Crystal!
Yes! Treating each day as a gift is one of the secrets to enjoying life! A little prayer book, SevenSacred Pauses, by Macrina Wiederkehr has really helped me in viewing each day as a gift, as I am encouraged to pause throughout my day to reflect on blessings, to remind myself of my place in this beautiful world, and to live mindfully of the potential of each moment. She includes a quote from Rabindranath Tagore which goes like this:
“Do not say, ‘It is morning,’ and dismiss it with a name of yesterday. See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name.”
Wow Annette,
I love that quote! Thanks for that!
I think you do this well… being thankful for the day… each time I talk to you I think you say something like, “I hope you get a chance to enjoy this beautiful day.” It usually stops me in my tracks and helps me re-focus as I need to do multiple times each day. 😉
I’m with you Claudia. When I was struggling in my own direction in the corporate world a while ago each day was a struggle and it seemed I couldn’t wait for it to be over because of my lack of drive and not wanting to be there. There was so much more, greener grass somewhere else, and I felt the “job” was holding me back… Fast forward —> My life is a complete 180 right now, and it’s amazing! The path I took was just what I needed to see to help me get here, and be able to help others get here as well. I’m forever grateful, and now I do see each day as a gift! It’s the only way to see it, right?
Rob, I love catching bits and pieces of your story. Inspiring to say the least. So glad you are where you are now! 🙂 There is nothing more fulfilling than doing something you are good at and enjoy doing.
Amen, Claudia… I couldn’t agree with you more! 🙂
[…] How To Like Your Life […]
This is a great post! Have you read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin?
ManCaveRadio,
Thanks a lot!
You guys are putting out some rockin stuff btw 😉
No, I haven’t read that book… what is it about? Sounds like it would be right up my ally.
Claudia, it’s about a year in the life of the author as she experiments with improving her life in “small” ways (she didn’t feel the need for drastic changes like a new career, moving far away, selling the kids and husband, etc.). First she did a bunch of research from “happiness experts” as well as ancient texts, and then she tested one set of resolutions per month for a year. When I first picked up the book in 2010, I put it back down because I thought it might just about a selfish pursuit of pleasure. But I noticed it again a few months ago and realized that she actually has a pretty healthy perspective, and many of her “resolutions” were about serving her family and others. She’s an excellent writer — the book is fun to read and quite inspiring.
Thanks for the compliment! You guys have really been on fire … and gotten there quickly!
Sweet! Just ordered it… Thanks for the recommendation! Always gotta read a good book when I hear about it. 🙂
Hey, thank you as well! Your comment is superbly encouraging to us! It has been an amazing journey thus far and thinking ahead to the awesome possibilities the future holds blows my mind/ our minds!
It has been through connecting with people that are doing cool stuff like you guys, that we are continually inspired. It is amazing to rub shoulders with others that encourage you to go bigger and better and bolder. I think we all keep pushing/encouraging one another to new heights!
I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts about the book!
JUST started it… so far… awesome. I like how she paid attention to her thoughts. Most people don’t. Most people just push down their thoughts and dreams because they don’t think they have any other options… there are always other options…
Yes, and I feel like she didn’t over-think them either. She did research, took action to try things out, bounced ideas off other people, kept what worked and threw out what didn’t, and kept moving onward and upward.
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