THANKFUL for TODAY!

 This post is simple and to the point. There is no need for any further commentary. 

READ - CONSIDER - APPLY YOUR GRATITUDE!

                                                          

Until next time, remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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TODAY - It's HERE, It's NOW...LIVE IT NOW!

Just a quick entry for today. There's that word...TODAY.

I've talked about this many different times over the years but simply wanted to bring it to the forefront of your thought process today as we near the end of another calendar year. 

By the way, you do realize what the calendar year is made up of, right? Years are made up of months, months made up of weeks and weeks are made up of days and "days" are made up up of individual "TODAYS". 

So, it's TODAY. 

Like it or not, it's HERE. 

What are you going to do with it? What ARE you doing with it?

Bottom line: It's HERE, It's NOW and it is imperative that you LIVE IT NOW!

And, as you do so, always be sure to...

 

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

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #10: Direct Your Future

"It's always too late to change your past but it's never too late to change the direction of your future!" - Mike Spillman (12.31.10)

My guess is that, most people would like the opportunity to go back in time and do a few things differently. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know all the stuff about "oh, but it has made me who I am today". I get that. BUT, I still believe that most of us would like to have the opportunity to go back and do some things differently.

Correct mistakes, do better with how we raised our kids, respect our parents better and just love people more. And, my goodness, what about FINANCIAL mistake that, knowing what we do now, we might be able to avoid?

Remember, that time period that we call "tomorrow" doesn't even exist and neither does that time period that we call "yesterday". All we have is TODAY. Yes, we can learn from our past mistakes and be dedicated to not repeating them in the future but we cannot go back and undo or re-do things in the past. 

I always thought that this was an interesting phrase: "Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday." 

But here is what we CAN do, friend. We can change the direction of our future and it begins with what we do right now, TODAY! 

Yes, I understand that we are "molded" by our past but, friend, your past does NOT determine your future. What has happened in your past does not DEFINE who you are nor does it determine your future or your destiny.  

Stop making excuses. Stop whining about your past. Hey, if that offends you then you really need to ask yourself WHY it does so! Stop enabling yourself to continue living in the shadow of your past and what may have been wrong, tough or unfair.

YOU control your future. No matter what your situation and no matter what excuse (disguised as a reason) you may want to try to come up with, it all boils down to this one truth: YOU CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF YOUR FUTURE! 

And, friend, feeding your mind with information such as this is a step in the right direction. Yes, you CAN direct your path and it begins with the first step and that first step begins TODAY. 

I'd love to get some feedback from you on today's topic or on any topic that you have read or listened to via Future You University.  Be sure to listen to the podcast and watch the video (links below) to get the full scope of my thoughts for today's topic and, please, stop by my Facebook page (link below) and leave some comments.

And, until next time, whatever you do, always be sure to... 

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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The Old Barn and Miss Jeannine

The barn that you see in the picture above is one that I had planned to stop and take a picture of for a long time. I literally would pass by this old barn every day on my way to work and, many times, on my way back from work, depending upon which route I would take.

It actually became a running joke with my wife when we would pass by the barn - on days that I wasn't on my way to work - and I would say, "One of these days I'm going to stop and take a picture of that old barn!". The reason it became a running joke is because I said that for about a year and a half.

And then, one day I finally did it! I finally pulled over on my way to work one morning and took a couple of pictures of this old barn. I love pictures of old barns and other buildings like this and I finally did it! THEN my next plan was to take a picture of it for each of the four seasons. As you can likely tell from the picture, this one was taken this past Spring.

About a month or so I passed by and noticed what you see in the picture below. That's right, the old barn had collapsed and, shortly after, was completely removed to where you could not even tell that the barn had ever been there at all.

I'm so glad that I did finally pull over and take that picture that I had talked about for so long because, little did I know at the time, I would not have many more chances to do so before it's collapse. 

Now for Miss Jeannine. I didn't post a picture of her but she has been a dear friend to my wife and I for about the past twelve years. We first met her when we moved to a new town back in late 2005 and got to know her very well over the course of the 5+ years that we lived in that town. Even after we moved from there we stayed in touch and even got to see her from time to time even after she moved from there as well.

She spent the last year or so in a nursing home and we would stop by and see her whenever we had the chance to do so and I would even stop by when I was by myself and on my way somewhere related to my work.

The last few times we got to visit with Miss Jeannine were a bit disconcerting to us because she was starting to struggle with maintaining a good mind and, once, when I stopped to see her by myself, I spent a bit of time helping to calm her down because she didn't know where she was and who all the people were that were there. They were the other residents of the nursing home.

My wife and I saw her towards the end of this past March...about four months ago and have talked about how we NEEDED to go see Miss Jeannine again. But, for whatever reason, "things" came up and we just never got it done.

Last week I received word that she had been placed in the hospital with pneumonia and, then, the day after that they were going to be placing her in hospice. My wife and I were trying to arrange our schedule to where we could go see her and hoped that she would be able to know that we were there. We received word that they actually had placed her in hospice on Monday and we finally figured out that we would go see her on the following Friday.

On Tuesday I received word that she had passed.

There were no longer any more chances to go visit with our dear friend. Ever.

We attended her funeral this past Saturday and we both talked about how much we wished we had gotten the chance to see her "one more time".

The old barn is one example and Miss Jeannine is another but, friend, there are situations and examples like that around you each and every day.

We tend to get complacent and we tend to take things for granted but I want to encourage you to make a sincere effort to "wake up" from that complacency and to take action TODAY and EVERY DAY!

Stop putting off whatever it is that you keep saying that you need to do and just do it.
Stop saying you need to call or go visit someone and just do it.

Stop forgetting to tell someone that you love them and how much they mean to you and just do it.

Stop talking about "one of these days" and do it TODAY while you still have the chance.

If you don't you will likely regret it and if you do, you will be glad that you did.

With that in mind, whatever you do, always be sure to...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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It's a GOOD DAY To...

Yeah, this image is WAY bigger than the size that I usually use for my blog article, but I wanted to make sure that you could read all that was on it so that it could "soak in" and give you a little extra boost for your day!

Now, right up front, I had nothing to do with coming up with the thoughts shared on this image. I actually came across it on THIS WEBSITE - check it out for yourself.  

Take the time to look over ALL of the phrases found in this image and APPLY THEM to your life TODAY! As is said right at the top, "Today is a good day to have a good day!"

Hey, you've heard me talk about how important TODAY really is so, why not go ahead and make it a GOOD DAY?

It's like we've discussed a lot recently - it's a CHOICE and it's one that you make each and every day. Sure, there are things that happen (read the last article, "Some Days Just SUCK!") that can make it harder to keep a positive attitude but, friend, it's still a choice and you CAN make ANY day a GOOD day! (Sure, you can "read ahead" on the graphic above and get some other pointers/ideas on this whole thing).

Take it as a personal challenge! Hey, make a game out of it if that's what you need to do to get the right "frame of mind" to attack the potential negativity that may come with a day that is "not so good".  Say to the negativity, "Bring it on!" and then SPIT IN THE FACE of that same negativity and be determined to make it a GOOD day, at the very least.

Believe it or not, this is EXACTLY what I do on some of those days that seem to be headed the wrong way. There are times that I have actually laughed (really) and said, "I don't think so!" and then set out - determined - that things were going to get better! And, guess what? THEY ALWAYS DO! 

 Sure, there are always exceptions but, friend, we are talking about the day in and day out mindset that is necessary for you to WIN at life!

I will be taking each part of this graphic and using them as the topics for upcoming articles and podcasts but, again, you have the opportunity to "look ahead" and start the process of thinking and applying these thoughts and ideas in your own life NOW...TODAY.

So, until next time, it's up to YOU what you do with the time between now and "the next time". And, remember, whatever you do, be sure to...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

Do NOT Let Life Escape You!

I ride a motorcycle. I LOVE riding my motorcycle and I often say that the time on my bike is my "therapy". No, I'm not making light of the intricacies of proper therapy but I'm simply stating that being on my bike is a way for me to "clear my head" and "let go" of the worries and/or frustrations of the day. 

I've even checked my blood pressure AFTER being on a ride and found that it was quite a bit lower than what my normal numbers read. Ahhhhhhhhh!

But, here's the thing, you can "fill in the blank" with that graphic above and put in whatever it is that you LOVE to do. You can also make it more personal by using the word "I" instead of "we". For example: "I _____________________ not to escape life, but for life not to escape me."

What would go in YOUR "blank"?

I often talk about the importance of TODAY and the fact that TODAY is all that we really have. There's no promise of tomorrow and you cannot relive or reclaim yesterday. LIFE is made up of individual days which means that each day - TODAY - makes up your life.

So, what is it that you CHOOSE to do today to make sure that LIFE doesn't "escape" you?

This doesn't mean that you have to jump out of an airplane in order to "experience" life. What it DOES mean is that you (just like me and everyone else) may just need to be reminded to make sure that you EXPERIENCE life as it unfolds around you!

If you have kids at home, don't miss out on them BEING at home. They grow way too fast and, before you know it, they will be gone and out of the house. Enjoy each day as it happens...one day at a time!

I'm sure you've heard the cautionary phrase,"Be careful what you wish for", right? Indeed, be careful, because it often comes true before you are actually ready for it to. 

This is not a long article but one that I hope will cause you think and take a look around you each and every day. Yes, sure, take advantage of those times that you get to do something out of the ordinary that you really love to do. But, at the same time, don't let the "ordinary life" pass you by without enjoying and living every moment of it before it vanishes.

You'll be glad you did!

One way to make that happen is to be sure to...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

Wash, Rinse, Repeat

A roommate says to another roommate (that has been in the shower for a long time!), "Hey, what's taking you so long in there? I need to get in there and take a shower, too!" The response from the roommate in the shower? "Sorry but, this shampoo bottle says to 'wash, rinse, repeat' and I DON'T KNOW WHEN TO STOP!"

Oops.

So, you may still be thinking, "What in the world does this title and that joke have to do with today's article and podcast?"

First of all, let me ask you this: Have you read and/or listened to the two previous articles/podcasts? If not, GO DO THAT FIRST, come back and then see if a light bulb doesn't go off in your head. Aha!

By the way, you can follow the podcast by CLICKING HERE to go to the iTunes page or by CLICKING HERE to listen to it on the RSS feed.

As we close out this "mini-series" on the importance of making wise decisions because they will impact us (and others) for the rest of our lives, I want to talk about how we can be successful in choosing wisely.

Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

What???

Live life ONE DAY AT A TIME. Do what you can EVERY DAY to improve your mindset, just like you are doing right now by reading this blog article. Add to the library in your mind with as much positive information as you can and then do it again and again and again (Wash, Rinse, Repeat). 

Learn how to make WISE decisions on even the "small things" and then apply that same discipline to the "larger things" that you deal with on a daily basis. 

Don't worry about "tomorrow"...it doesn't even exist. Think about that! Tomorrow is something that is still in the future. We have no promise, no guarantee that it will arrive yet we spend time worrying about or planning for that time period that has yet to arrive.

What we DO have is TODAY! That's it! That's all we have...TODAY! You can't go back and relive or reclaim yesterday - it's GONE forever. I've already talked about that time period that we call "tomorrow" and you should now understand exactly what I mean when I say that all we have is "TODAY". 

This applies to any area of your life, whether it be in relationships or whether it be financial matters. The choices that you make TODAY will impact your FUTURE. So, choose wisely TODAY!

In your relationships, do all that you can do TODAY to improve the relationship. Don't wait on someone else, YOU do all that YOU can do TODAY. Do all that you can do to let the other person (or people) in your relationship(s) know how important that they are to you and do it TODAY. Let that other person (or people) know that you are thankful that they are a part of your life, but do it TODAY. Get the point?

By the way, that's how you "set the table" for a long-term relationship. You don't think, "I don't know if I can do this for the next 20, 30 or 50 years!" You just do all that you can do, one day at a time, beginning TODAY and then you "wash, rinse, repeat" over and over again.

"Oh, but Mike, when it comes to financial situations, you MUST be planning for your future!" Absolutely. I agree. Here's how you do that - "You plan for your FUTURE by what you do TODAY."

Over simplified? I don't think so.

You can read or listen to any successful person that you can and you will find them all basically say the same thing concerning success. Find what works and then do it over and over again.

So, even financially, your decisions - wise or unwise - done on a DAILY basis will determine your financial future.

Remember, "Many times the PROFOUND can be FOUND in the SIMPLE." Don't miss that point.

Be sure to listen to the podcast so that you can get in on some additional thoughts and input on this topic - you'll be glad you did and, until next time, whatever you do, always be sure to...

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

Mike

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"E" in BELIEF

 

- EVERYDAY -

 

As I continue with my thoughts on the word, "BELIEF", I want to apply the word, "EVERYDAY" to the 2nd "e" in this word.

 

Now, before I get into that, let me give another quick recap of what I've shared so far, o.k.?

 

We began with the word, "BEYOND", and discussed how we MUST be able to look beyond our current circumstances to see what CAN be and what WILL be. This process helps us understand the importance of our BELIEF that our current circumstances (what IS), will not remain that way. We then applied the word, "EVENTS", with the encouragement of not allowing our everyday events to darken our vision and our ability to look beyond those events. The word, "LIFE", was discussed in a way to help us all understand that life is happening every day. What we experience - yes, the good AND the bad - is all a part of life and the emotions that go along with those events let us know that we are alive! And then, in the last article, we used the personal pronoun, "I", to understand that "I am responsible for my own actions!".

 

Now then, it is important - even VITAL - for us to be applying these thoughts to our mindset EVERY SINGLE DAY! Not just once in a while but, EVERY DAY!

 

Yes, it IS that important. And, since I feel so strongly about it, I used the word VITAL in the last paragraph.

 

Just as your "vital signs" indicate that you are either dead or alive (or near one or the other), so it is with DAILY activity with these thoughts in relation to your belief!

 

In the same way that you become weak if you do not eat for several days, so it is with this. Friend, if you try to go through several days without adding thoughts like have been discussed in this series (and in this blog on a regular basis), then your BELIEF will be - not "might be" - WEAK!

 

Applying these things to your life EVERY DAY will help solidify your belief. By doing so, your belief will become REAL and SOLID and not something that is just a bunch of words.

 

It's when you begin to LIVE your belief that it finally becomes "real". It becomes "who you are". Or, another way to put it is that when you begin to LIVE your belief on a daily basis, it becomes more than just talk. No one has to guess, no one has to wonder about your belief.

 

When they see you, they see and know what you believe for, you truly do live what you believe.

 

Every day, one day at a time.

 

And, as you do that, always be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike

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TODAY By Any Other Name...

"What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet..."

 

The above is said by Juliet to Romeo in Act II, Scene I of William Shakespeare's play, "Romeo and Juliet" and is a line that is often quoted.

 

The main point of this quote appears to be the fact that, regardless of what you CALL something or what name is given to any particular thing, it is what it is!

 

So it is with TODAY!

 

On the podcast, from time to time, I refer to the different days of the week by different "names" such as: Magical Monday, Turn-Around Tuesday, Wide-Open Wednesday" and Thankful Thursday. But, the fact is, it doesn't matter what I call it or what name appears on the calendar week. Whatever day it IS, it is simply (and correctly) called, TODAY.

It doesn't matter if you call it Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday OR Saturday...it's still called "TODAY" when it arrives.

You can call it a "birthday", "holiday", "work day", "off day", "weather day", "vacation day", "sick day"  or "take-your-kid-to-work-day"...it all is still called, "TODAY"!

And, what you do with TODAY is up to you, friend. Stop waiting for tomorrow for, that period of time that is 24 hours or so away will still be called TODAY once it arrives!

The time is NOW and it's time we realized that there actually IS NO OTHER TIME to do what needs to be done and to take charge of our lives.

So, what are you going to do with YOUR day?

TODAY awaits, but don't forget this, it won't wait for you for long before THIS DAY is gone.

And as you consider these thoughts, always be sure to...

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

Mike

 

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Another One of THOSE Days...

So, yeah...here we go again, right?

You've likely had this same conversation with yourself time and time again and, guess what keeps on happening?

TODAY just keeps on showing up!

The "comfortable" thing about putting things off until "tomorrow" is that "tomorrow" is always there. It never gets here because TOMORROW is always in the future.

But, when that time period that we call "tomorrow" arrives then it is called TODAY. So, to really look at this the way that it really is, TODAY is all that we have - there is no such thing as tomorrow.

I heard this once several years ago, "TODAY is the TOMORROW that you worried about YESTERDAY!"

Here's the thing - you know it, I know it, we all know it BUT we keep living the same way...waiting and planning and "putting off" until TOMORROW.

TODAY.

Whatever "it" is that you keep postponing until tomorrow or, even next week ("next week" still becomes TODAY sooner or later) must be faced and defeated and, friend, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO!

But it must be done today.

I think I've said that about enough because, for one, YOU are the only one that can get that done. I can encourage and point things out but, again, it's all up to YOU.

And, as you get done TODAY what needs to be done TODAY, be sure to...

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

Mike

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The POWER of ONE DAY! (part 7: Summation)

 

I hope you have enjoyed and benefited from this series.

 

"Enjoying" does not necessarily mean "enjoy" in the way that we usually associate that word. Sometimes we are faced with things that make us uncomfortable because they make us take a close look at things in our lives that may need to be changed. It might make us squirm BUT we "enjoy" it because it did, in fact, challenge us to improve our actions and our lives.

 

Again, if you have not read the previous posts on this, PLEASE take the time to read them and also send me your thoughts/feedback on this series. That would mean a LOT to me and it would be a big help as well.

 

Let's sum it all up. No, I'm not going to go back and do a "review" but, instead, I want to just tie it all together in a way that, hopefully, will help us all - myself included.

 

If you've spent ANY time with me at all then you know that I emphasize the importance of TODAY quite often. And so it is with this whole series.

 

I could go on and on urging us, with specific examples, of why it is so important to take advantage of today. Why? How? Because it's that important and simply due to the fact that the need and urgency is endless.

 

However, let me simply say this: TODAY MATTERS.

 

Even more importantly, WHAT YOU DO TODAY matters!

 

Stop wasting your days. Stop thinking that there is nothing more to life. Stop thinking that the mistakes you have made in your life cannot be overcome. Stop thinking there is nothing you can do. Stop thinking that it's too late.

 

Start realizing that today is a new day. Start taking advantage of this new day that you have. Start making definite decisions to make the changes necessary to correct whatever needs to be corrected in your life. Start taking one step at a time, beginning TODAY!

 

Friend, I can never "over-emphasize" enough what YOU can do in this one day!

 

Here's the great thing about this as well: You don't have to worry about tomorrow or the next day - JUST TODAY! That's all you can control.

 

So, with that being said, I CHALLENGE you, I ENCOURAGE you to take care of TODAY.

 

There is POWER there, my friend. Look at it. See it. Feel it. KNOW IT.

 

Now, start LIVING it.

 

TODAY.

 

And, as you do so, be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike

 

Future You University          "Like" FYU on Facebook!          MichaelSpillman.com

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

I heard this phrase many years ago and it has stuck with me through all of those years that have passed:

"TODAY is the TOMORROW that you worried about YESTERDAY."

If we will but take care of TODAY then all of our "yesterday's" will be viewed with little to no regret and we will face TOMORROW with confidence, KNOWING that we have taken care of TODAY.

I like that. I'm glad I wrote my thoughts down on that and I hope you will take a look at it and implement into your thought process today.

Until next time...

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

Mike

A Day at the Hospital

 

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I spent most of today at the hospital today. My mother-in-law had surgery yesterday and, due to a crowded room, I sat in the lobby for the most of today and did some “people watching” from my chair as people came and went.

Here’s a brief view of what I observed throughout the course of the day:

1. I watched a young couple load up their newborn and it brought a smile on my face and many warm memories to my mind of the three times that my wife and I brought our sons home from the hospital. The start of a new life and many memories to come for this family.

2. I just saw a teenage couple come in all wrapped up with each other. You know, like each are afraid that the other person can’t stand upright unless THEY hold them up. But now, for me, makes me think if my wife and I tried to walk like that it would be like trying to run in a 3 legged sack race!

3. And now I observe a family gathering and mourning the death of a family member. So sad to see. Today I’ve observed parents taking a newborn home and now the impact of the death of a loved one.

Dare I make this point again? Sure I do – it’s my blog!

TODAY.

No need to say any more about that. You do the rest and make it count.

And, as you do, be sure to…

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

Mike

This entry was posted in Empower Network



 

All You Have is TODAY!

 

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“Today is the Tomorrow that you worried about Yesterday!

 

I’m sure you’ve heard that one before, right? But take a moment and really think about what is said in that statement. Here’s a quick summation: TODAY.

 

Put another way (and it’s also something I’ve said many times before), TODAY is all you have. Once this day is done – you can call it yesterday if you want – it’s gone forever and then that period that we had called “tomorrow” is now here and it’s called – what? – TODAY.

 

So, it’s a reality: TODAY IS ALL THAT YOU HAVE!

 

What will YOU do with yours? Make the most of it. whatever that means for you and to you, but make the most of it because, again, once it’s gone, it’s gone forever and can NEVER be reclaimed.

 

And, while you do so, whatever you do, be sure to…

 

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

 

Mike

This entry was posted in Empower Network

You Are Able to TOUCH and CHANGE Lives

Today is "Wide-Open Wednesday"...what will YOU do with today's wide-open opportunity?

So far this week we have discussed two of my "7 Life-Changing, Life-Directing, Powerful Daily Affirmations" and, as you might guess, I will be continuing on with the third of these seven in today's article. For those that have yet to listen to the podcast that goes along with all of this, I'll go ahead and share with you the total list of all seven before I continue today's thought. Here we go:

1: I am somebody SPECIAL!

2: I AM ABLE to accomplish GREAT things!

3: I AM ABLE to TOUCH and CHANGE many lives for the better!

4: I will not allow ANYONE to determine the size of my dreams1 THEY ARE MINE!

5: I AM A GIVER - not a taker!

6: I WILL take steps on this journey TODAY!

7: I CAN! I WILL! I MUST!

Again, if you have not listened to or read the previous topics (the first two affirmations) before now, take a few moments and do that. Why is this important? Because the very first affirmation is the BUILDING BLOCK and FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE upon which the remaining six affirmations are built.

Because of WHO you are (one created in the image of God) you are, indeed somebody special! And, based on this fact you ARE able to accomplish "great" things and, among those great things is your ability to TOUCH and CHANGE the lives of those around you that you come into contact with each and every day.

Take a moment and just think about all of the people that you have had more than just a "passing connection" with over the past five years. I'm not talking about those people that you came into contact just once (those would be the "passing connection" people I mentioned - although you DID have an impact on them as well!) but those that you come into contact maybe even two or three times in a week.

The waiter/waitress at your favorite restaurant, the garage attendant at your parking garage, your doorman, your co-workers, your friends at church, your spouse's family, your family, your children, friends of your children and on and on we could go. Think about that just for a moment and try to come up with an estimate of how many different people you've had contact with, like these, over the past five years.

My guess is that you will likely come up with a larger number than you would have thought in the beginning. Now, double that number and then triple it. Why do that? Because, whether we realize it or not, the impact we make on other people is transferred to  people that THEY come into contact with in THEIR daily lives!

WOW! When you think of it this way you do, indeed, have impact on far more lives that we can even begin to imagine! Here's the kicker - that impact can be either NEGATIVE or POSITIVE!

What impact would you say that you "generally" have on those around you? Oh, I know we all have days when we are a bit short with people and maybe aren't as positive as we normally are. That happens. But friend, what IS your "norm"?

Listen, when you even just consider the impact you make upon hundreds - if not thousands - of lives just from the impact upon your children, it can be almost overwhelming. Your children and all of those that they connect with throughout their school years and even through college as well as the co-workers that they will have in their career. Combine that with their friends and then their own children (your grandchildren) and on and on it goes.

WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING TODAY?

You see friend, it is not about HUGE and MIGHTY things when we discuss this. Sure, it CAN be and you MAY touch many lives in ways that not many can or do but - DON'T MISS THIS POINT - your ability to touch and change many lives for the better begins right now and right where you are. TODAY.

We must stop waiting for some great opportunity before we touch lives and realize that this opportunity is here before us this very day. NOW.

So, touch and change the lives of those that you come into contact with today and every day and just imagine how far-reaching that impact will be and then smile as you go about your day.

And, as you do so...

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

Mike

What Would YOU Do If...

It's "Wide-Open Wednesday"...what will YOU do with this special gift?

What would YOU do if today - yes, today - you could do ANYTHING that you wanted to do and/or go anywhere you wanted to go? What if, what if, what if!

Many of us have had such thoughts and, too often, "fantasies" of such a happening for our lives and, many times it is associated with the thought of, "If you only had 2 weeks to live, what would you do?"

Isn't it kind of sad that we have to associate our pending DOOM in order to think that way? Queen Latifah stars in a movie that came out in 2005 entitled, "Last Holiday" in which she is mistakenly told she only has a short time to live. And, friend, live she did! Money was no object because, after all, you can't take it with you and she was no longer afraid to live the live she had only dreamed of before. She DID have a bit of a money issue once she realized that the diagnosis was a mistake - but she learned to truly "live" her life!

Bottom line, here's the truth: Today (any day) you CAN do anything you want to do! Sure, there may be obligations, responsibilities and our moral compass that keeps us from acting upon some things without thought or regard to others or these responsibilities but...the truth is that you CAN if you want.

Many do so every day REGARDLESS of these responsibilities leaving destruction in their wake. Families have been destroyed by one or both parents deciding to do what they wanted to do without any thought (or little thought) to those hurt by such decisions.

However, I'd like you to consider a more positive approach to this topic. Sure, you may not be able to leave all the stress and responsibilities of your life behind (although some try by faking their disappearance) but there ARE things you can do today that, for whatever reason, you have thought were out of your reach.

Have you decided that you are stuck at your job and there is nothing you can do about it? NOT TRUE! Sure, think wisely and make a wise decision but, at the same time, it may take a sudden and decisive action in order for you to stop TALKING about it and start TAKING ACTION with it.

Many people feel that they must wait until they can "afford it" before they have children. I understand the thought and I also agree to a certain extent but, my friend, you'll NEVER be able to 'afford" the expense of raising a child. If you wait until you think you can afford the financial AND emotional cost and investment then you will NEVER have that child. You will continue to TALK about that child but you will never HOLD that child in your arms!

Hey, listen to the podcast (on iTunes - http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-spillmans-future-you/id423660739 or via the RSS feed - http://mikespillman.hipcast.com/rss/futureyouuniversity.xml ) to get some more insight on this topic and think on this yourself.

Don't come to the end of your life saying, "What if..." or "If I only had done..."

Remember, TODAY is all we have and, as you go through this day be sure to...

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

Small Things Becoming BIG!

It's "MAGICAL MONDAY" once again...what will YOU do with YOUR magic?

We go through our days doing what we may think are totally insignificant things along the way. As a matter of fact they are so insignificant to us that we don't even think about them when we do them. (Now stay with me on this because, yeah, I'm going to hit a few "pet peeves" but we ARE going to end on a very positive note!)

For example, one thing I see a LOT of people do (and a growing number of young people - wonder where they get it from?) is to litter. And, from what I can tell by watching, they don't even think about what they are doing. I mean, after all, what's the big deal about one tiny little gum wrapper, right? Of course not until you multiply that by thousands of people that are doing the same thing.

Have you noticed how many "non-handicapped" people park in the "handicap only" parking spots? Hey, what's the big deal, right? I'm just going to run in for a few moments and pick something up. Again, without even thinking about this small, seemingly insignificant action.

Rude comments without thinking. "Oh wait, did you take that SERIOUSLY?" Talking on your cell phone or just being completely engulfed by it while in the company of others.

I could go on and on because there are so many and, by the way, there are things that I do, as well, that has a negative impact on others that I don't even think about. Small. Insignificant.

Now, on the other hand there may also be lots of little things that we or other people do - again without much thought - that may seem rather insignificant. And, just like the negative examples above, though they may SEEM to be small and insignificant, they may be anything BUT that in the lives of some people.

Opening the door for someone else. Saying, "thank you" and "you're welcome" and "how are you today" (and meaning it) when so many people are either too busy or too preoccupied to do so. Picking up that gum wrapper on the ground and putting it in the trash. Taking the time and making the effort to TRULY LISTEN to someone when they are talking with you. Giving someone else the RESPECT of your full attention when you are with them.

Here is a prime example that I experienced just the other day. Please know that I do not share this with you to "pat myself on the back". This just really just jumped out at me because, to me, it was small and insignificant and something that I try to do so often that I didn't even give much thought.

Now first, let me tell you that, for the most part I feel that the term "customer service" is an oxymoron. It seems that the majority of the time that I have to call in and speak to a "customer service representative" it turns out to be something LESS than a pleasant experience. Can any of you relate to that?

Anyway, I really wasn't expecting a battle of any kind but, to be honest, I wasn't looking forward to making a call that would involve a customer representative. As a matter of fact, I tried every way that I could think of to try to take care of this business through this company's website where I would NOT have to talk to anyone. No such luck.

Within the first minute of the conversation, after the gentleman introduced himself to me, he asked, "How are you today?" to which I responded, "I'm doing great! How are YOU doing today?" No biggie. No major motivational speech. Simple. Small. Seemingly insignificant.

However, this gentleman on the other end of the phone said with a smile in his voice, "Mr. Spillman, I'm doing fine and, I'll tell you this - I will be working for another 8 hours or so on my shift and you will likely be the ONLY person that will ask me that today. THANK YOU for asking me how I am doing!"

Did that seemingly insignificant exchange make a difference in this man's day? Apparently so! Did I set out to make that impact? Not really. But I did.

Small things becoming BIG. Think about it and pass it along and see what happens in YOUR world.

Until next time, friends...

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

Mike

Living Today in COLOR!

 

Today is "FUN FRIDAY"! Find a reason to SMILE and to SHARE that smile with others!

So, today is Friday...how long have you been waiting for today? How long have you been "hanging on" until FRIDAY? How many times do you find yourself on MONDAY already looking forward to FRIDAY? Songs have been written and sung emphasizing this type of mentality but I really want to ask you to consider this: DON'T YOU THINK YOU ARE WISHING YOUR DAYS AWAY WHEN YOU DO SO?

I once heard a young lady state at around 6:00 a.m., "I can't WAIT for this day to be over!" Are you kidding me? The day hadn't even really begun and she was already wishing it was over? She had apparently already decided for herself that it was going to be a TERRIBLE day and, according to her way of thinking, there was absolutely NOTHING she could do about it except wish for the end of that day.

Friend, that is truly sad in my opinion.

STOP living your life in the "grey" and "hum-drum" existence that so many find themselves in and START living your life in COLOR and experience each day FULL OF LIFE!

Do you remember in the movie, "The Wizard of Oz" how the first part of the movie was filmed in black and white but, upon Dorothy's arrival in the magical land of Oz, the movie was then shown in beautiful color? It was done that way for a reason! It was MAGICAL...it was NEW and VIBRANT and offered so much for this young lady that she had never experienced before. Isn't it time YOU stepped out of the world of "black and white" and started living YOUR life in VIBRANT COLOR?

In case you're having a hard time answering that question, let me be of assistance..."Uh, YEAH!"

Oh, by the way, there IS a reason I have a picture of a watch at the top of this blog. This is the watch that I found before Christmas that caught my eye. Very seldom is there anything that I really want for Christmas or my birthday or Father's Day and it is a bit frustrating to my wife... understandably so. But, when I saw this watch it "spoke" to me and I almost bought it on the spot since it was right there and available. However, I decided I'd wait, tell my wife about it, show her a picture of it on-line and then let her get it for me so it could actually be "from her". We stopped by a couple of stores in other towns before Christmas so she could pick it up and wrap it for me but we never could find THAT particular watch in the other stores! So, finally, we went ahead and ordered it on-line so that it could be shipped to the store in our hometown and we could pick it up when it arrived. Due to our crazy schedule right now it came in about 10 days before we could get to it and, FINALLY, we were able to pick it up the other day - this "Christmas present" near the end of January - at our local store.

We were both excited since we had been waiting so long and I actually had found something I wanted. Isn't that watch BEAUTIFUL? You see, blue is my color and that watch just caught my eye the moment I first saw it. I excitedly opened the box to only be disappointed. Why? Because the watch they sent was NOT the watch I ordered. The one I ordered looked like the one pictured above and the one they sent had the face color of what you see above if it was shown in black and white. In other words it was a dark grey trim with a light grey center. YUCK! When I took it back to the lady inside I told her about the problem and laughing I said, "That's like ordering a color t.v. and getting one in black and white!" (Oh, by the way, we did end up driving back to the ORIGINAL store where I first saw the watch and picked it up - YAY!)

Sure, I could have settled for the one I didn't order since it had taken so long - BUT I DIDN'T WANT THE UGLY, COLORLESS WATCH! I wanted the one that was beautiful, vibrant and colorful!

STOP settling for living a life of "drab existence" and begin to live and experience a life in LIVING COLOR!

So much is being offered to you today that we often pass up because we have settled for "drab" instead of "VIBRANCY" in our lives! Don't wish away the day or the week - take advantage of all that this day has to offer you! GRAB every ounce of LIFE out of this day, squeeze every ounce of life out of every second of this day! 

WHY? Because once this second, minute, hour and day is gone - IT IS GONE FOREVER and it CANNOT ever be recovered, relived or replaced. Gone. 

So, as is always the case - the choice is yours. What will YOU do with what you have...TODAY? As you go through your day, always remember to...  

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

Mike

Your Personal "Ground Hog Day"

Today is "Turn-Around Wednesday!" (Be sure to check out today's podcast to see how this is true in YOUR life today!)

Do you remember the 1993 movie, "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell in which the character played by Mr. Murray gets to start the SAME day over and over again until he "gets it right"?

Wouldn't it be awesome if we were able to do that exact same thing?

Hold on to your seats, friends because, to some extent WE CAN!

No, I'm not suggesting that we can go back and "re-live" a day all over again. However, what I AM saying is that we all have the opportunity to start each day FRESH and NEW with the chance to make corrections, improvements and advancements in our lives.

Hey, believe me, I understand that there are pressures, problems and people that WON'T GO AWAY with the dawning of a new day BUT I also believe what I have been saying for a very long time with this following quote, "As long as there is breath, there is hope."

When you even consider the "tag" that my friend, Gerry, placed on this day of the week - "Turn-Around Wednesday", it emphasizes the same thing...you CAN "turn things around" today!

What is it that they call this idea in the game of golf? A "mulligan", right? In other situations someone may call out the word, "redo!".

No, we cannot go back and re-live but with every new day we DO have the opportunity at a "second chance" in our lives. How many times have you heard others - or even yourself - utter the words, "I just wish I had a second chance."

You do. Each and every day and, by the way friend, TODAY is one of those days!

Live, love and laugh and, as you do so, be sure to...

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

Mike

"Merely Existing OR Truly Living?" - Part 2

"Merely Existing OR Truly Living?"

(Part 2)

"TRULY LIVING INVOLVES RISK!"

Don't you just love that picture? That little mouse is about to take a risk! But, if you'll notice, he has PREPARED to take that risk (see his helmet?) and he (or maybe "she") has decided that the REWARD (the cheese) is worth the RISK (possible death!).

As the subtitle says, "TRULY LIVING INVOLVES RISK!".

But, are YOU willing to take the risk? If so, are you PREPARED for the risk? And, have you decided if the RISK is actually worth the REWARD?

Only you can answer these questions, right? But, I can try to give you some things to think about as you DO consider your answers.

First of all, I'm thinking that a life void of all risks would definitely fit into the category of "merely existing". What would you say?

You likely have seen this displayed with how some parents "over-protect" their kids. You've seen it, haven't you? I have watched (very uncomfortably, I might add) as some parents have "blocked the way" of their children even coming CLOSE to any possible "risk" as they tried to play.

But there was no playing to be done! Why? Because once all the risk was removed there was actually nothing to do. Think about that.

If you want to learn to ride a bike then understand this...there is RISK involved! There is the risk that you may fall over and crash. Actually, it's not a risk - it's pretty much a certainty. Some parents will not allow their child to entertain this risk and, by doing so, ROB them of the joy of peddling that bike with the wind blowing in their face.

It has been said that, by doing all that we can to eliminate germs around our kids, we have actually weakened our children's immune systems. They actually NEED some germs so that their body can build up a proper defense to them.

I was friends with a young lady when I was in college that, quite honestly, came from a different background than I did. I'm not a "fancy" person... never have been and I don't see myself ever becoming that way. What do I mean by "fancy"?

Now, before I share with you this example, please DO NOT be offended if you enjoy this type of scenario in your life. All I'm saying is this: it's not my style!

Anyway, she was describing to me her "dream house" and she was even "walking" me through the rooms of the house and describing how they were set up and how they looked in her mind. She told me of one room that have very nice furniture in it which consisted of a couple of nice chairs, a couch, coffee table and a few other things. Now, to me, she had already told me about her "living room" that had couches and chairs in it and I asked her what was the purpose of having another room so similar. If I remember right she called this second room a "sitting room" and I, being a bit sarcastic said, "So, what...you just are going to come in here and sit?" to which she replied, "Oh no! No one will sit on this furniture. It's really more to just look at!"

I wish I could tell you that I was polite and tactful but that would be stretching the truth a bit. Remember, I said I was sarcastic and, true to form, I simply laughed at her and told her that the thought of such a thing was just plain silly!

Now again, please don't be offended if you have a "sitting room" that no one is allowed to sit in but, to me, in my "non-fancy" world it just doesn't make much sense.

Why have furniture if no one is allowed to sit on it and use it?

To me, this is a perfect illustration of living a life without risk - you are merely existing. You are "here" but nothing is happening and you are not "using" your life for it's intended purpose.

Just look at that last sentence again and notice the words, "your life". We use the word, "life" to describe what we have as our existence on this earth yet, too many times, we miss the essence found in that word... LIFE!

Think about it as I share with you one other quote from the movie, "Tuck Everlasting" that I will use in my concluding thoughts on this topic in tomorrows thoughts...

"Don't be afraid of death, but rather be afraid of the unlived life."

Until then...

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

Mike