Friday – 6/27/2014

“We believe that we choose our thoughts the same way that we choose our clothing. When we choose to embrace each day’s potential, positivity, and energy, we hold the key to our own contentment and happiness. With these thoughts, we relish the pursuit, enjoy the effort and wholly commit to making every day Another Best Day.” – Dave Campbell & Brett Hughes

First things first, a few birthday wishes. To my sister, Lindsey: I’ve watched you turn into an amazing woman over the past several years. The support you have shown me, especially since my injury, is more powerful than any medicine a doctor could prescribe. As you continue to grow I hope you continue to find the perfect happiness we all seek. I love you!

I also want to wish a happy birthday to Brett Hughes, a wonderful friend who is also the cofounder of Another Best Day. If you’re not familiar with the powerful idea behind that phrase, you owe it to yourself to check out the ABD website.

Building off of that concept of making every day the greatest day, just imagine if you could wake up every morning and tell yourself, “Today is the best day of my life.”

Who says you can’t? Why not?

It is certainly not my intention to just offer up a bunch of lip service. I can appreciate the daily challenges we all face, whether it affects us or someone else in our life. Life is a challenge at times. Life can be unfair, cruel and unforgiving at times.

But life is also beautiful. Every day I thank God for my life. I may be living it differently than I once planned, but He has allowed me to continue living it. I tell myself that the more positivity I can infuse into my daily regimen, the more I am honoring Him and appreciating this gift He has given me.

The realist in me knows that waking up and living the best day possible, each and every day, is a lofty goal. However, it’s also a goal worth striving for. What’s the worst that can happen if you don’t reach it? You have a pretty good day? Not the worst consolation prize in the world.

The below reflection is from Brother David Steindl-Rast. Each time I read it, its message rings more and more true. I think it serves as a great primer for setting yourself up to have Another Best Day.

“You think this is just another day in your life.
It’s not just another day.
It’s the one day that is given to you, today.
It’s given to you.
It’s a gift.
It’s the only gift that you have right now.
And the only appropriate response is gratefulness.
If you do nothing else but to cultivate that response to the great gift that this unique day is.
If you learn to respond as if it were the first day in your life and the very last day.
Then you will have spent this day very well.
Begin by opening your eyes and be surprised that you have eyes you can open.
That incredible array of colors that is constantly offered to us for pure enjoyment.
Look at the sky.
We so rarely look at the sky.
We so rarely note how different it is from moment to moment with clouds coming and going.
We just think of the weather.
And even with the weather we don’t think of all the many nuances of weather.
We just think of good weather and bad weather.
This day right now is unique weather.
Maybe a kind that will never exactly in that form come again.
The formation of clouds in the sky will never be the same that is right now.
Open your eyes, look at that.
Look at the faces of people whom you meet.
Each one has an incredible story behind their face.
A story that you could never fully fathom.
Not only their own story, but the story of their ancestors.
We all go back so far.
And in this present moment, on this day, all the people you meet, all that life from generations and from so many places from all over the world, flows together and meets you here like a life-giving water, if you only open your heart and drink.
Open your heart to the incredible gifts that civilization gives to us.
You flip a switch and there is electric light.
You turn a faucet and there is warm water and cold water and drinkable water.
It’s a gift that millions and millions in the world will never experience.
These are just a few of an enormous number of gifts to which we can open our heart.
And so I wish that you will open your heart to all these blessings and let them flow through you.
That everyone whom you will meet on this day will be blessed by you.
Just by your eyes, by your smile, by your touch.
Just by your presence.
Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you.
Then it will really be a good day.”

Stand Strong!

Scott