This past weekend I surprised my wife with tickets to see Florida Georgia Line at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City.  What an amazing show and night!

As I watched the show in amazement, I couldn't help but think about how much fun they looked like they were having.  The energy, the passion, and the excitement they brought to the crowd was inspirational.  I am sure my students feel the same way when I begin teaching!

​I couldn't help but think about the risk they took to get to that pinnacle moment. It must have taken huge sacrifices, ups and downs (actually a great song by their opener Morgan Wallen), and an unwavering commitment and determination to make it all happen. 

I am sure it started with a vision, stayed a live with hard work, and culminated with luck along the way.  "The harder you work the luckier you get" is what my middle school baseball coach used to say!

That is what we all should be doing in our lives.  Embracing our vision, working hard to make it happen, and getting lucky along the journey!

  It's about doing whatever it takes to get to "Our Moment" on the stage of life. 
(What theme song would you come out to?) Mine

Finding something that brings us to a moment of pure nirvana. 

The problem is that everything else gets in the way of it all (bills, comfort, doubt, and probably the most common thing...FEAR)

"False Evidence Appearing Real!"

"The thing you want the most is on the other side of the fear."

I could go on and on with quotes about fear, however reciting quotes won't get you anywhere.  

Believing, challenging yourself, and doing what the quotes say...will!

Take that small step, take that large leap, but no matter what keep taking moves towards what makes you feel every beat of your heart!  

This summer go to a concert and get inspired as you roll into your own greatness! 

I am signed up to receive a plethora of daily emails to help me on my never-ending journey of learning, self-growth, and to feel a sense of importance when I see my inbox full!  

In any case, I opened one of these life-changing emails, scanned through to see if anything caught my eye and was immediately drawn to an article titled, " Got 5 Minutes?  I want to Share 50 Life-Changing Lessons With you." 

I began to read and instantly enjoyed the quick, meaningful, and witty writing.  His views were spot on, blunt, and each thought had purpose.  Most importantly I felt like he was going to be a man of his word with taking only 5 minutes of my time (like the title suggested).  That was, until I got to #23!

"Realize That Everything Comes To An End"
Your good health, relationships, family, pet, business. We all know how things end. Just make sure you appreciate the things you still have. Before you know it, everything will be gone. And so will you."  

Imagine eating steel cut oatmeal with walnuts, blueberries, and a drizzle of honey and reading this first thing in the morning.  What an eye-opener.  I mean we all know this is going to happen, but for some reason the way he worded it really struck a chord with me. 

The subtle wording of "appreciate the things you still have" is somehow meant to console you a little, however the last sentence definitely delivers the final reality punch straight to your day.

I took a few seconds to regroup and continued through the rest of his article, but nothing engrained in my mind as strong as #23. 

Surprisingly, I was able to use it as inspiration throughout my day and I plan to really make it a point to remember #23 every morning.  It opened my eyes to realize that even one of my worst days are still one of my best days.  Sometimes we need to hear things as rough as possible to shake us and make us realize the big picture in this crazy thing we call life.

  To run while we still can, to savor our children while they are still children, to put the phone down and really live in the moment.  To do the things that bring us internal happiness.

We all should be celebrating in every small victory of our lives.  Every breath we take, every up and every down of our life still means we we aren't at our end. 

We aren't gone, we aren't at our ends, and we all still have life to live.

How are you going to live yours?  #23 will find us all one day, but until it does.......