My son returned from Sweden with a farmer’s tan and 151 photos. Despite the rain, living outdoors, they caught the rays any time there was sun. He still has krona to exchange and he returned with phone, iPod and laptop, all in working order. I sense a subtle difference, a deepening and awareness in a boy who can add an international trip without a parent to his list of accomplishments.
One of the highlights was an activity called “Dream.” The scouts started at a station called Death and moved through milestones and virtual events until they reached Birth, pushing through a pile of wooden blocks in order to be born.
We all need to take a look at Death and work out way back to today. Not knowing how many days stand between the two, we assume we’ll live an average lifetime. We expect that all our ideas and plans for “someday” will take place before Death. But without an idea of how and when, those ideas and plans will be nothing more than daydreams.
Who likes to think of death? Not me. Not you. The best option then is to live the life we have so we can at least cheat death of our regrets. You’ve heard me say that I don’t like the term “bucket list” because people think too far off in the future, instead of identifying their dreams and figuring out a way to accomplish them now. If we don’t know about tomorrow, let’s make the best use of today.
Just for fun, think of living only for the next five years. Create a plan to accomplish everything you want, working backward to identify the necessary steps. Start today, then forget about the five years. If it makes you feel better, plan to live to 100. But don’t wait until you’re running out of time.
Take a group of nearly 40,000 scouts who identified their dreams. In countries all around the world, boys and girls return home this week to begin living their dreams. Imagine the world in the next few decades. Suppose they hadn’t participated in this activity? Would their lights shine a little less brightly, perhaps not as focused? I’m excited by the idea of 40,000 teens who know what they want to accomplish.
Daydreams are like ideas. They get dusty without action.
If you have a dream of better health, don’t wait until tomorrow or the next day. Find out how you can take an e84 challenge to improve your health, achieve your healthiest weight, get more energy and/or move your fitness to the next level. Click www.sharonhayward.myevolv.com for more information or call me at 616-450-8531. For a man’s perspective, call Joe Manzanares at 303-923-8061. He’s a friend, a man, and he has a perspective.