THE RICHNESS OF YOUR LIFE

Your life can be as RICH as you want
it to be, whenever you decide to "make it so."
There is no need to wait! The RICHNESS of your life is not
dependent on cash, or assets, or anything else. You don't
have to have money or own a business or get a raise, or move
to a new city. The richness of your life is strictly up to
you and depends on only a few simple, daily disciplines.
Here are a few suggestions:
1. The Daily Discipline of having FUN! Every day, hug
someone you love, play, dance, take a nap or go for a run.
Do something you love and do it every day. Of course, you'll
want to schedule work and errands, but be sure that first of
all, you schedule time to actually LIVE your life out loud.
Have lottsa fun!
2. The Daily Discipline of Planning. John Lennon said that
"life is what happens while you are making other plans."
Every day, just before bed or first thing in the morning,
choose your priorities. Review your goals and values, and
plan your activities accordingly. Of course, you'll want to
include the daily tasks of life, but make sure your VALUES
show up as well!
3. The Daily Discipline of Learning. Our world is changing
and those who do not learn, are destined to fall behind.
Every day, read for 30 to 60 minutes. Every day listen to
audio programs in your car or while you exercise. Watch
educational TV programs. Attend concerts, classes and
workshops. If you aren't learning something new, you are
falling behind.
4. The Daily Discipline of Thinking. Henry Thoreau wrote
that he went to the woods to "live deliberately," and that's
a GOOD thing! These past two weeks, I've had the chance to
choose my activities each day and to spend part of each day
just "sitting." I sit for ideas and inspiration. I sit to
watch a sunrise. I sit to absorb the gifts life gives
freely. Take time each day to envision your goals, to affirm
your values and set your direction.
5. The Daily Discipline of Work. In the end, results
matter. Doing work that makes a difference, work that
produces results and makes life better is one of life's
great blessings. It's a chance to partner with God to make
the world a better place for ourselves and others. Never
fritter away your life on empty effort or trivial chores,
but do all the real Work you can!
Personally, I believe the time we spend on these Daily
Disciplines is not "subtracted" from our total, but is
actually "added" to our lives--it adds to the quality, the
richness and quite possibly, the length of our lives.
Take time to have Fun, to Plan, to Learn, to Think and to
Work every day. Do not spend your life being busy about
trivial things! Hopefully, we have many years ahead of us,
but we know that life is short and it ends too soon. Should
your time arrive unexpectedly, be sure your loved ones know
that you LIVED every day of your life!