I have written about many different people I have met. And I do meet lots of people. We have a small shop at the Cruise Terminal in Saint John. Depending on the size of the ship docking in Saint John, we see 2,000 to 4,000 people in one day. 

We meet some of the most interesting people. People from all nations, from all walks of life. 

A Positive Outlook 

Last week I was fortunate to me an older woman with a very positive outlook. We had a discussion about many different things; she was one of those people who you would want to be your grandmother. When she was leaving our shop, I said to her "Have a great day". She looked up at me from her wheelchair and said, "No, have a great life!" 

Her words made me smile and I said to her, "You are right". 

To which she replied, "Yes it is not just today that it is great, it is life that is great, so enjoy it all!" 

Words from a Book 

The next day I was reading a book by William Arthur Ward and came across these words of wisdom he had written many years ago but that still apply today.

Regardless of age, you are still young at heart as long as you exclaim 

"Wow" instead of "What's the use!"

when you say "Hot dog" instead of "Oh well"

when you yell, "Yippee" instead of "So what?”

when you contend "Everyone's important" instead of "You can't fight City Hall"

When you insist "Folks are swell" instead of "You can't trust people anymore"

When you greet others with "What a great day to be alive!" instead of "The world is shot to pieces"

When you proclaim "What an opportunity" instead of "What a predicament."

So What Is A Great Life? 

To have a great life is to appreciate the gift that each one of us is given. 

It is not a gift to take for granted or a gift that you should use without regard for the world around you. 

It is not a gift that should be squandered or a gift that can be recovered once wasted. 

Use Your Day 

To have such a gift means that each day is a continuance that is given to you to use to the fullest. 

This does not mean that each day is simply another day full of drudgery, or a day filled with sorrow, spite or vengeful thinking. 

It also does not mean that you give away a day without feeling the value of life where you can contribute your own special behavior that reflects your value. 

A Personal Philosophy 

It is a personal philosophy that counts each day as worthy and does not see tomorrow as being better. 

It is about being as good and able as you can each day where tolerance for the less fortunate or those who fail to meet your expectations is forgiven, and where being positive in the here and now precedes thinking that one can postpone being positive or living constructively can be put off until another day.

It is the art of taking a step a day to move to what you need to become for tomorrow is what you are today.

 

Each day is a special moment in the present tense that cannot be reversed or taken again so it is vitally important to accept that you are the one in control of you every moment of every day. 

So, I share with you the message that I was getting from people I met, and from the books I was reading last week -

 

"Enjoy your life, not just the day!"