Over the Labor Day weekend, I woke up several mornings in the middle of my Heaven on earth. I woke to the calmness of the waters towards the back of Fannie Creek on Dale Hollow Lake. The coolness in the air one morning signaled a change is close. These are the best days when it gets hot during the day, but the nights and mornings are refreshingly brisk.
As I walked the shoreline one morning, I stopped to watch someone ski. The calm conditions this particular morning made for great water to slalom. I thought to myself, "that used to be me."
I remembered how much I used to enjoy gliding across the water, and the turns and the thrill. Then, in an instant, my thoughts went to my Uncle Jewett Steenbergen. You see, he loved this lake before me. He loved to ski before me. He loved to fish before me. He loved, well, better than me. He seemed to live each day with the mindset that it might be his last. Oh that laugh, I can still hear it as though he was there with me. Honestly, I wish he were!
Jewett passed away a few years ago. Each of us will do the same. In the blink of an eye Jewett went from ripping through the waters of this special place to passing onto that even more spectacular one.
So, my thoughts began to move on me. My emotions were stirred. I felt the peace that comes from the still waters by which I walked. And this question came to me. If we are all here just a little while, shouldn't we make the most of it? What does it take for us to live our best life today? What must we do to stop wasting days?
Could the recipe be this simple? Start by loving yourself, and then go love others. Hug someone! Smile at someone! Spread the joy! Be infectious!
Today, I shall go live like Jewett! Will you join me!
Swagger On friends!
Written by Derron Steenbergen, President of the Swagger Institute.
The Swagger Institute is a full service business consulting company specializing in sales and leadership training, motivational speaking, customer service training and organizational development.