Your Life's Fingerprints

YOUR LIFE'S FINGERPRINTS

Most of us understand the basic facts about fingerprints, right?

Most of us realize that no two fingerprints are alike but did you know that this was also true in regards to identical twins?

Did you also know that Koala Bears have fingerprints that can be mistaken for human fingerprints?

And, finally, did you know that injuries such as burns or scrapes will not change the ridge structure: when new skin grows in, the same pattern will come back.

These are all interesting facts, aren't they? And, they also bring about some thoughts about a different kind of "fingerprint" that we all leave behind.

I call it our life's fingerprint. The imprint, the impact that we all make on our world - yes, even you!

I know that many people feel that they have no impact on the world and that there existence doesn't matter at all and that the world would be no different if they were to disappear.

WRONG!

Yes, I know it's a movie, but let me call your attention back to that classic, "It's a Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart. You remember, don't you, that the premise of the movie is that of the character played by Mr. Stewart having the chance to see what his world would have been like had he not even been born. He found that his life DID INDEED have far greater impact than he imagined.

Now, I know of no way to do this for you. HOWEVER, I do know that it is true of your life as well as everyone else's.

Yes, there are those that leave a negative - and sometimes even an evil - impact upon the world. But there are many that impact their world with a POSITIVE imprint that reaches far beyond their imagination.

We've talked about this idea before when we've mentioned how YOUR imprint can impact generations to come without you ever even knowing about it. POWERFUL!

Now, if you noticed, I highlighted a couple of phrases in that last fingerprint fact listed above. I highlighted the words, "will not change" and "same pattern" in regards to our physical fingerprints.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS: We CAN change our life's fingerprints! If we don't like the impact or are not satisfied with the type of fingerprint we are leaving on our world we CAN change it and/or correct it!

Again, it's that wonderful ability we all have to make a CHOICE!

Isn't life wonderful? "As long as there is breath there is hope!" helps us to understand this each and every day.

Know this: you DO leave and you ARE leaving a fingerprint - an imprint - upon your world.

What does your "identifying mark" say about you?

Join me the rest of this week as I discuss this topic further in both my podcast and here, in my blog. Thanks for joining me today!

And, as you go through your day remember to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

The Chilean Earthquake IMPACT

Most, if not all of us, are well aware of the devastating earthquake that hit the country of Chile over this past weekend. I have watched the progression of news articles that have increased the death toll from "dozens" to now over 700 and many of us have seen the images of the terrible destruction and devastation that has come as a result of this earthquake.

One thing that caught my attention, too, was the extended impact of this earthquake with the tsunami warnings that were posted for so many different countries. Here is a small clip from an on-line report I found that emphasizes this fact:

"The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cancels its widespread alert after smaller-than-expected waves hit Japan and Russia. Earlier, experts had issued a warning for 53 countries and regions in the area."

Wow! Fifty-three countries impacted by this one earthquake! I discuss on today's podcast how this brought a few thoughts to mind on how we are connected in this world in so many ways. Let's look at this thought first and then I'll discuss another train of thought that came to mind with this terrible tragedy.

First of all, this world is connected in many more ways than just the physical impact that this earthquake had on some many areas and countries. Because of the expansiveness of our modern media, we have almost IMMEDIATE news and images brought to us from all over the world when such a tragedy strikes.

Yes, there IS also a positive side to the same media that I "ranted" about in last weeks program and it is how it CAN make us all aware of the need for help in situations like this. It also can help us have empathy for those suffering from such a tragedy and, hopefully, move us to ACTION to help in whatever way that we can.

CAUTION: However, we still must be very careful with the AMOUNT of coverage of this tragedy that we allow ourselves to "consume". We can become overwhelmed with emotion to the point of depression if we sit and watch the non-stop coverage of these terrible happenings in our world. So, just be aware of that and be careful in the AMOUNT of coverage that you take in.

Technology also allows us to be connected to people all over the world and to be impacted by these events because of that connection. I have a friend, Carola, that is from Chile and, although rattled and pretty much having everything in her house destroyed, she is alive and well! I have never met Carola but have "connected" with her through several different avenues available on the Internet including Facebook.

You have similar instances in your life, I'm sure. We have the ability to be in contact with people that we have never even met - WOW!

But, here's the question: What are you doing with that?

Here's what I mean - you may have 10,000 followers on Twitter and 10,000 friends on Facebook, but what are you doing with that? Is it just a "let's see who can get the most numbers" thing or is it an OPPORTUNITY for YOU to do good and impact lives?

I really want to encourage you to consider the latter and take advantage of the "tools" available to each of us today to impact people's lives all around this wonderful world of ours! Sure, chat with your friends and laugh and have fun, but also take the time to encourage and share positive thoughts and ideas.

Finally, the Chilean earthquake, along with the recent earthquake in Haiti brought to mind some thoughts that are a little more sobering. There are NO GUARANTEES in life! Put even more plainly, LIFE IS NOT GUARANTEED!

You've heard me say (or read) many times that TODAY is all we have and that "tomorrow" is an illusion. Recently in our discussion of 12 Things to Do For a Positive Life we ended with something along the lines of, "Make the most of each day and evening because, once gone, they are gone forever!"

Think of the countless numbers of people in Chile and Haiti that, either the day before or even earlier in the same day, spoke to friends and family for the last time without realizing it. I'm not trying to be morbid, I promise. I'm simply trying to bring into focus the need for us to make the most of the time we have NOW!

Make the most of each day. Do today what needs to be done. Don't put it off. Don't wait for a better opportunity to share you life and love with those around you. Do it TODAY.

Keep those that have been impacted by these terrible tragedies in your thoughts and prayers and take the lessons mentioned here to heart and let it IMPACT your life for the better!

And, as always...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike