You Don't Have to Wait to Start Living Your Dreams

It's Sunday morning and I read something the other day that stuck with me.

"There are dreams of love, life, and adventure in all of us.
But we are also sadly filled with reasons why we shouldn't try.
These reasons seem to protect us, but in truth they imprison us.
They hold life at a distance. Life will be over sooner than we think.
If we have bikes to ride and people to love, now is the time."
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Yesterday I was on my way home from running a few errands and I called Sheila. I had this big smile on my face, the top down, the radio blaring and I said to her, "It's one of those days when everything is right in the world!"

When she asked me why, I really had to think about it. The answer is the foundation for today's Sunday Morning Reflections.

• Sleep: It starts with getting a good night's sleep. I've finally accepted I'm an eight hour guy, and when I come up short, my reasoning skills are at a minimum. Little things aggravate me and big things are intolerable. We've been trying to go to sleep a little earlier and I feel terrific.
• Exercise: We've walked for thirty minutes every morning since June 30, and only missed one day. Exercise is a key. We've all heard it for years, but so many of us procrastinate and let work get in the way.
• Friends: I'm in touch with more of the people who matter in my life. Last week I caught up to a half dozen long time friends who I just hadn't talked to in awhile. Those friends are why I love Throwback Thursdays. Even if I don't post about it, looking through old images makes me smile. Each old photograph takes me back to good times with some very special people, and it pushes me to take the time to create new memories.

But the truth is there's a bigger reason...I simply choose to be happy. The clock is ticking and one thing I've learned as I've gotten older is how precious every day is. We make the decision every morning on what the "weather" is going to be for the day.

I lost the month of June fighting a battle with a 9mm kidney stone. The event was instrumental in appreciating everything I have; my health, my relationship with Sheila, good friends and without question an industry I love dearly. It shouldn't take a crisis to make us appreciate everything we have, but that's life.

So, to follow the directions in that quote I shared, I've got a bike to ride and people to love, and I'm taking the time to appreciate them!

Wishing all of you a wonderful Sunday - and time with the people you love. Put your heart into those eleven-second hugs. Remember, whatever today brings is up to you, so you might as well go crashing into it with a smile on your face and a little rock 'n roll in your heart.

Happy Sunday!