4 Simple Practices to Have the BEST DAY EVER

A few years back, a friend of mine was showing me pictures of her dog and I couldn’t help but notice in each one, Mike, (her yellow lab) looked like he was having the “best day ever.” There was a picture of Mike, watching for my friend to drop a piece of popcorn from her bowl- the look on his face- best day ever. There was a picture of Mike on the boat, sitting on the ice chest, tongue hanging out- best day ever. Picture after picture, Mike looked like he was having the best day ever! What Mike may not be aware of is that he has a growth that could take his life sooner than anyone would want- especially for my friend (Mike is her child). Still, Mike goes on, everyday like it is the best day ever. My friend could put Mike through chemo, but the chances of it diminishing Mike’s quality of life are so great, and he lives life so fully, that she can’t do that to him. She has resolved that she would rather know that Mike lived life, everyday, like it IS the best day ever. And if Mike knew his fate? I believe Mike would still live everyday full of love and joy. So how do we live a life, even faced with adversity, like it is the best day ever? I’d like to propose some helpful tips:

1. BELIEVE- Napoleon Hill said, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Seems pretty basic, but in a world full of negativity, it is not so easy. If you stub your toe getting out of bed and you believe it is the pre-cursor of bad to come…guess what….it will! Believe that today is your day to hang your head out the car window with your tongue catching the air….like Mike….best day ever!

2. EMBRACE WHAT YOU HAVE- You may not have much or you may have it all. Embrace what you do have, even if that is simply you are alive one more day to make a difference in the world. Don’t think of what others have that you do not. If you have the world, embrace the opportunities that are there for you to seize and be a blessing to someone else. For Mike that may be realizing he has a tail he can chase endlessly, having a blast- the joy he brings to those watching is priceless!

Don’t focus on piles of debt or health issues, think instead and embrace the fact that you have another chance….every day you awake to have the best day ever!

3. BE KIND- Many of us grew up with the Golden Rule- “Do unto others, as you would want others to do unto you.” But do we really live that?! It’s amazing how just a smile can be such an impactful act of kindness. Saying good morning, opening the door for someone, or telling someone to have a nice day. Think of yourself as the tail-wagging yellow lab, full of joy, the Walmart greeter of your world! You’d be amazed at how quickly kindness spreads and you find yourself having the best day ever!

4. GRATITUDE- Mike is happy when he gets his belly rubbed, when anyone walks in the room, when he passes gas and everyone has to vacate the room, when he’s at the ball game chasing anything and everything, and every moment he is alive.

We have so much to be grateful for, even in the midst of adversity, although it may be hard to see. Say thank you, to yourself, to others, to the world around you. Be genuinely and outwardly grateful and I guarantee, this will turn inward and you will have the best day ever!