Is today a good day for you to live? I’m sure most of you have heard the saying, “Today is a good day to die.” But what about living? Are you putting off living until the COVID-19 pandemic is resolved or there is a vaccine? Are you refusing to make the most of your life until the election has come and gone? Is there any excuse you/me/we continue to use to keep us from making today a good day to live? I don’t know about you but the more I am reminded that I only have so much time left on this planet, the more I value my life. I don’t want to reach my final days saying that I wasted 2020 (or any particular day) for any reason. Regardless of our circumstances, we each have the ability to shift our mindset and create days filled with things that matter to us. Join Thom and me on the SMART Living 365 Vlog as we discuss this topic and encourage ourselves and you, to make this a good day to live.
Hi, Kathy — Great reminder! The perfectionists among us (very much including me!) also need to remind ourselves that, in order to have a good day, one doesn’t have to be productive every single moment. We just need to do a few things that matter to us — things that are useful to others, things that are enjoyable for us. I DO orient myself every morning, in my journal. (What’s on the schedule? What kinds of activities do I need or want to do?) It’s really helped with feeling drifty during Covid….
Hi Nancy! I’m a big fan of journalling as well and completely agree that it keeps me aligned with what matters to me. I’ve been doing it so long I can’t imagine NOT doing and remaining sane. And yes I agree that we DON’T have to be productive but like you, I need that reminder constantly! ~Kathy
I enjoyed your video and what a great topic! Some of us celebrated a “New Year” over the weekend, and your thoughts reflected a new beginning.
Hi Sue! Thank you and I hope your New Year celebration was a good one…May it indeed lead to a year that is better for us all. ~Kathy
I enjoyed your video. I have to get myself away from the news but it’s addicting. It’s easy to feel helpless sitting at home and watching it happen.
Hi Rebecca! Glad you liked the vlog. And I know it’s addicting to stay plugged in with everything that’s going–and I would never suggest we not do what we can–but I also know that our psyches can only take so much! Far better to pace ourselves don’t you think? And never, ever, ever forget to reflect daily on the gift of just being alive. ~Kathy
Yes, today is a good day to live. One of my mottoes – Do life so life doesn’t do me. I’m committed to engaging in life. Even in this time of covid restrictions, there are choices.
Hi Mona! YES! Thanks for sharing your motto with us. It’s a great reminder that today is a good day to live! ~Kathy
Thank you for sharing. I am reminded of my 91 year old dad. Every day he wakes up he tells himself “yes, I got another day!”. His way of saying “today is a good day to live”!
Jamie
Hi Jamie! Congrats to your dad and how wonderful an example to you and the rest of your family! I’m afraid I was as guilty as anyone when I was younger and just assumed I would live forever. Your dad knows that isn’t true and counts each day as special. Thanks for that! ~Kathy
Yep. Every day we wake up healthy and without pain is a good day to live. For some reason, I realized this (or somehow lived by this) from a young age. No regrets! While stuck in this room for months, I still enjoy every shower, unlimited electricity and internet, and the company of my beloved husband and dog. The fact that I can be productive is a massive benefit and will prepare me for a more enjoyable life again once we hit the road in October. 🙂 Time is a precious commodity.
Hi Liesbet! I totally agree that waking up healthy and pain free (free from all sorts of pain–mental, physical, spiritual, emotional) is cause for gratitude and appreciation. And thanks for also pointing out that once we are able to return to any sort of our favorite activities need to remember. May all your plans for October be realized and fulfilled. ~Kathy
Today is a great day to live. Your reflections on the time we each have on this earth were made even more poignant with the sad (and worrisome) news I just received about RGB’s death. She accomplished so much and, I’m sure, lived fully every day. You and Thom look great – I’m happy to know how much you are enjoying every day at the beach.
Hi Janis! Yes, I was certainly sad about the passing of RGB but you’re right, she is and will remain a positive example of what women and all people of capable of if we apply ourselves. I’ll be she didn’t live with regret or boredom and made the most of each and every day. And yes, Thom and I are enjoying our time in the cool at the beach. We have a little over one week left and plan to make every day of it count. Wish you could have come for a visit though… ~Kathy
You know when I am dashing around all over, I have seriously longed for the time to spend weeks at home. Whilst therefore lockdown may not have been something I would have planned, I have actually appreciated the opportunity to do things I would normally never get round to and at the same time it has elevated my appreciation of “the little things.”
Hi Caree! I tend to think that recognizing and being thankful for those little things is a key to living a quality day–so thanks for bringing that up. And I’m glad to hear that you’ve learned to appreciate this experience regardless of whether any of ever wanted it or hope to have it happen again. May we all grow wiser and more thankful once this passes! ~Kathy
After the first adjustment I find Covid has not affected me (on the social interaction, get a life, boredome level) as it has many friends, and has bothered me less than I thought. Yes, I am lerning to do things differently and yes, I wish I could be hugging more and going to church in a perfect world. But there are still so many things each day that I can do, learn whatever, that for most part I am just having fun a different way. But I admit thta when the cold spell hits and I cannot go out daily, I may have a different tune to sing.
Hi Barb! I have two minds about the COVID situation. I too appreciated the downtime like you said, but Mind #2 likes to get out and about and that one makes me get more creative with myself. :-). Thom on the otherhand is more like you in that he doesn’t think of it as any big deal. But then as you say, “there are still so many things each day that I can do, learn whatever, that for most part I am just having fun a different way.” I do think that the weather has a big impact on how sequestered we all feel (or don’t feel) so that will be interesting. I also think the longer it lasts that that will also change our perceptions. Through it all though I hope to keep reminding myself that “Today is a good day to LIVE!” Thanks for sharing your thoughts! ~Kathy
Hi Kathy,
I truly enjoy seeing you and Thom have shared conversation like today’s. I have found comfort with interacting with folks in my Yoga, Friends Happy Hour and Adult Children Chats all via Zoom. It’s that lack of human connection both my Hubby and I have missed the most! That said we have found many fun tasks which we probably wouldn’t have done prior to this pandemic isolation.
Keep smiling and I’m grateful to have you and your wonderful outlook in life.
Thank you….
Hi Rita! Thank you for letting us know you appreciated our vlog. Sometimes I think we are really just “preaching to the choir” about most of our topics, but then I’m reminded of how often I personally need to be reminded of the things I know. What’s the statement, “We are all just walking each other home”? ~Kathy
Today is the 1st Day of the rest of your Life. I have always tried to live this way. Just want you to know I have started following your Blogs and really enjoy them.
Hi Pandra! Nice to hear from you and to know you’ve been reading (and now watching) some of my blog posts. And very grateful that your wonderful mountain house let us enjoy living for a number of days this summer. May we all remember that “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” ~Kathy
Kathy & Tom,
Thank you for your positive reflections and reminders about each of us enriching our own lives so we can more useful to others in our communities! This period of time has been difficult because it disrupts what we believe are important daily routines. Your thoughts brought back the importance of breaking down, for oneself, the daily actions that make you happy & meaningful. Tom’s comment hit the mark for me about the trap of living up to other expectations. It’s been a challenge to support my beautiful wife of 30 years with her interests & passions and find the balance to pursue my own. Staying positive & communicating our own needs have been the keys to maintain our happy home. This is why your message today was so well timed! Thank you for your ability to share the wisdom…Our world could learn y our lessons! Blessings!
Mike
Hi Mike! Thank you for your thoughts on our vlog and the discussion itself. I think all of us in relationships have to find a balance where we support one another and practice good self-care towards ourselves. And yes, that is what is necessary to keep a home happy…that and remembering the good that we do have rather than wanting/wishing/hoping for it to be different. Glad you found the message helpful AND positive. ~Kathy (and Thom too of course!)
Like many others I wish I could travel and go to restaurants. But that’s not ALL I like to do. So these days I’m just trying to focus on the things I like to do and that I CAN do … enjoying my home, my spouse, taking walks, playing golf, watching lots of movies, reading books, keeping my sense of humor, zooming with family and friends, taking a remote history course. The question I have: so if I can’t go to restaurants, will I lose any weight?
Hi Tom! Thanks for sharing some of your own directives during these days–I think that if each of us have that same focus we will do well regardless of what is happening in the world. And yes, keeping that sense of humor is helpful especially now. As far as weight goes, just watch the baking…that seems to be where most people are having trouble at home!!! ~Kathy
” … don’t know about you but the more I am reminded that I only have so much time left on this planet, ” Keep thinking along that line and you shorten your time. Accept the day and go on / forward. Do NOT think! Enjoy and have fun in life. Your choice to be apprehensive, sad or happy. Choose!
Gerry
Hi Gerry! I agree it can be a bit of a paradox, but I’ve read so many time about people with various terminal illnesses and how they say that the awareness of their coming demise actually helps them to become uber aware of the gift of each and every day. While I think it can be morbid to constantly focus on our own passing, it really depends upon your perspective. And asking me to “not think” is just about impossible. Because I typically have two or three minds going at a time, it is far more important for me to train and direct them than to not think at all…And yes, I completely agree that we have the choice–so choose what works best for you for sure. Thanks for your thoughts on this. ~Kathy
One of my favorite Sondheim lines: “There’s a lot I’ll have missed but I’ll not have been dead when I die. And a person should celebrate everything passing by.” The song is referring more to relationships, but it can apply to celebrating what is in the world. I need to remind myself that celebration, enjoyment, and meaning can still happen during the pandemic, as there is much to celebrate right outside my own window! Thank you for this vlog.
Hi Annie! Thank you for sharing that Sondheim lyric. It definitely applies. That reminds me of the Jimmy Buffet song, “I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead. And yes, let’s celebrate, enjoy and find meaning any way we can regardless of what is happening in the world. ~Kathy
Today IS a good day to live. I may have to paint that saying and hang it up in my place, for inspiration! It’s easy (for me, anyways) to get derailed and end up wasting a day or more. The pandemic did it for a while; now the smokey skies and poor air quality is threatening to do it…Great chat! Thank you, Kathy and Thom!
Deb
Hi Deb! I doubt any of us constantly live every day with complete awareness of the time quality so I think it would make an excellent poster or saying to put on the wall. I think that’s why giving myself a task, like the one I mentioned in the vlog about doing a gratitude list or even journalling every day helps to remind us on a daily basis. ANYTHING that works is good. Glad you like the conversation. ~Kathy
I agree that today is a great day to live
I also agree that it is all too easy to believe that we need to clear the decks first. I have a good friend that regularly tells me that she will rejoin yoga next autumn. She’s been saying that for five years. You’re absolutely right — it’s about identifying our excuses and refusing to let them hold us back! Thank you for another thought-provoking discussion.
Hi Donna! Great example of how many of us put off doing things that we “say” we want to do or become. Obviously if we REALLY want to do that, we do it almost without excuse. I certainly catch myself now and then delaying my good…and at my age that is pretty silly. While we might not be able to everything we want right now, let’s focus on what we can do…and do it. ~Kathy