Since my grandchildren were 4
years old, I would ask them that question:
“ What are you doing today
to be the best that you can be?”
At first they just looked
blank at me then their expression changed and they smiled---one would say, I
helped Mommy clean the house today or I helped my teacher in school straighten
the room. Their minds were
thinking about the various possibilities that were available to them to do
something that was worthwhile and for the greater good. Another time, my grandson said, today I
wasn’t being the best that I could be because I wanted to tease my sister. His honesty made me smile but for him,
it helped him to understand the value of the principle and the consequences
that resulted.
While hosting a workshop of
varied age people—from 19 years to 75 years, I asked that same question to the
participants. Several of the older
people had the same expression as my grandchildren and their comments
were: “No one ever asked me
that question before, so I never gave it any thought.”
As we continued to discuss those
thoughts, I saw how the room lit up and many people began to express various
possibilities that surfaced in their minds as to how they could implement that
practice in their daily lives.
They began to see the
possibilities of the what ifs and the
I can do that because it became a
game. Life can be fun and it can
certainly be exciting if and when we are willing, ready and able to partake in
the journey daily instead of placing our focus on the end game.
In the world that we live in
today, most people are not placing their focus on being the best that they can
be but rather on how they can manipulate the system, take advantage of someone
or something so that they can reach their goal. We are too often only thinking about ourselves and
forgetting about the possibility of offering even a winning smile to someone
else. It is very often the small, simple gestures that helps us get through the
day and at the same time sends hope or joy to another. This exercise does not
have to be arduous or burdensome but rather it is meant to be uplifting and
life altering.
We, each one of us, can have
a successful day and a successful life if we really want it. The degree of success is relative and
will certainly depend upon how we perceive life and how we participate in it.
I am here to offer you
suggestions and possibly open your hearts and minds to new options and
opportunities. It is up to you to
decide whether you want to share in those types of rewards and success stories. Success is important to all of us but
in truth, our success is determined on how we enjoy life and how we participate
in it for the greater good of all.
How do you define your success?
Joan Marie Ambrose
Author, Creative Writer, Motivational Speaker
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