The year is short and this year is a long one, an extra day added to the end of February. Still, it is passing too quickly. Soon it will be a new year, one without an extra day. Will that one go even faster.
Every year, every month, every week are mere blurs in our lifetimes. Some people fear the passing of time, knowing there will be a day that will dawn without them. Some people relish the passing of time, knowing each day is an opportunity for action. Even with all those days, all those years, life is short. Short for the one who fears it and short for the one who acts on it. One is happier as the days pass and will be happier when the last one is counted.
How do you make your days happy? We have some suggestions.
Open your heart and listen to those around you. Anybody can listen with their ears. The compassionate ones, the ones who others turn to, the ones who have others to whom they can turn are the ones who listen with their hearts.
Ask questions. Nobody wants to be with the smartest guy in the room. That is fortunate for most of us because there rarely is a smartest guy in the room. Knowing you don’t know everything is the first step to learning, a learning that comes from accepting and interacting with others.
Accept the flawed and seemingly meaningless as signs to do better. Remember, progress is not possible unless there is something to improve. Not too long ago we wrote, "Improvement isn’t possible until we are willing to admit that we aren’t perfect. But once we do, there is no limit to the amount of improvement that is possible, improving even on yesterday’s improvements.
Know that not everything can change. Still, that’s not a reason to not try
Love deeply. Let yourself experience as many of the seven kinds of love when you can. Love when you can, not if you can. Consider those we love with all types of love, and tell them we love them whether with a kiss, a physical touch, a clasped hand-shake, a warm smile, or just saying, “I love you!!”
Offer care when you can. Accept care when you are in need.
Learn something new, create curiosity, open yourself to new experiences, and seek out ways to benefit from new information.
Be positive. Be grateful. Don’t complain when things go wrong. Live with what you have. Learn from what you don’t. When you love what you have, you have everything you need.
Acknowledging the talents and contributions of those around you and learn from them.
Be polite and courteous. Say please and thank you. Open doors. Offer help. Smile.
Be respectful of others, honest in all your actions, and exhibit patience and self-control.
Get up and move.! If you work outside the home, visit other departments, see how others use your products or services, find out what others are working on and what their priorities are. If you work at home, leave your designated workspace and walk through your home, taking in what the time at your workplace has allowed you to accomplish.
Go exploring. Go outside, breathe in fresh air, and visit with nature.
Assume the best in others. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can't change.
Don’t hold grudges.
You should notice, these suggestions take action to accomplish. Action is the antidote for fear. You can fear each day, or you can relish in each day. One is a lot more fun.
The beauty of what you two have written is that it's all selfless. It's not a focus on us that enriches our lives and brings us joy. It's the active seeking of being in community and valuing all the differences we as people bring to the table. I love the one that speaks to acknowledging that we're not perfect, but it shouldn't keep us from trying to improve. The world makes it too easy to quit when what we need is the encouragement from others to keep trying. Well done once again, you two.