“Like sand through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives.”-Intro to Days of Our Lives
168 hours/week
24 hours/day
1440 minutes/day
$86,400/day
Growing up, I was really, REALLY into Soap Operas. My baby sitter used to watch All My Children and General Hospital while I was supposed to be napping but for whatever reason, 5-year old Joann was not into napping as she was into the fascinating world of soaps. Looking back, I realize how absurd this was.
Fast forward a couple of decades and though I no longer watch daytime soaps, they did teach me a couple of things:
Life here on earth is Another World. The Days of Our Lives occur As The World Turns. Some live with a Guiding Light. I’ve learned that when we can see past the fancy, schmancy, lives of the rich and famous, life here on earth is really a General Hospital for those of us who fight each day to overcome our fears, our daily demons, memories, relationships, thoughts, and beliefs that hold us back. It is a place where we encounter a God who is kind and merciful; who loves us just as we are, and has this uncanny ability to transform the broken pieces of our lives into a masterpiece of hope. Despite the chaos and drama of this world, there is always, always an invite to a place of peace, a space of grace, a relationship of love. It’s the Jesus way.
As I prepare for my most significant calling thus far (as a parent), my hope for All My Children is that they will intimately know God who makes this One Life to Live here on earth a stepping stone for eternal life, which is more than any of us can even think, dream, or imagine.
I see a generation who I consider The Young and The Restless. These are folks who are no longer satisfied with the status quo or how things have always been done. I see a generation of legacy creating, love leading leaders who are out to leave this world better than they found it. I see a generation of educators, designers, students, health professionals, lawyers, entrepreneurs, parents, writers, investors, etc. who are breaking free of the past and boldly creating a future that you, me, we can be proud of. It’s a place where love is not an after thought but it is the leading thought. It’s a place where excuses are eliminated and excellence is elevated. It’s a place where kindness kills complacency, compassion trumps comparison, the well-being of people come before profits, and anything less than God’s best is unacceptable. I see a generation who is revolutionizing the way we think, dream, and live. Dignity for all is non-negotiable. Kindness is non-negotiable. Excellence is non-negotiable. And most importantly, LOVE is non-negotiable.
This is the life of The Bold and The Beautiful (souls).
So, you might be wondering: “how does this happen? how will this happen?”
Change is inevitable. It waits for no one.
Today, each of us have the opportunity to move from a place of selfishness (which I struggle with regularly) to a place of selflessness. This doesn’t mean we don’t think of ourselves, it means that we DON’T THINK ONLY of ourselves.
And so, for those of us who are interested in living the Lifestyles of the Kind and Compassionate, here are some practical questions to ask yourself at the start and at the end of each day.
At the START of everyday…
Who can I encourage today?
Who can I give a hand up to today?
Who can I smile at today?
Who can I celebrate today?
Who can I acknowledge today?
Who can I show love and kindness to today?
Who can I thank today?
What am I grateful for today?
At the END of everyday…
Was I at peace…today?
Was I forgiving…today?
Was I kind…today?
Was I trustworthy…today?
Was I faithful…today?
Was I honest…today?
Was I my best self…today?
Was I a reflection of God’s love…today?
Was I considerate…today?
What am I grateful for…today?
These questions are not to determine if you’ve been “bad” or “good” each day. Rather, they are an invite and an opportunity for you and I to consider how we are investing the moments we’ve been given and how we might live them for a better tomorrow.
Play Big. Play Now.
Do You Dare?
- Ladies (and Gents) Who ________: What’s Your Legacy? - May 15, 2018
- A Letter For Every Mother - April 17, 2018
- Dear Beautiful Soul… - March 28, 2018