December 3, 2012
Mitch Albom’s new book, “Time Keeper,” is excellent! In keeping with the spirit of yesterday’s article, Time Keeper’s message is “you need to learn to appreciate the life you live.” This time of year, many of us spend our time counting down the days left until Christmas, or Chanukah, or New Years. Each day is precious and should be greeted with a “Happy New Day” salutation. Instead, each day is wished away as we count, “Only 23 more days until Christmas.”
Mr. Albom writes, “when you are measuring life you are not living it.” Why not look forward to each new day the way we look forward to Christmas and Chanukah? Is it the act of receiving and giving gifts that make these days so special? If so, isn’t everyday in your life a gift?
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What’s so special about New Years? Is it the concept of starting anew? Is it our promise to do better, be more prosperous and healthier? If so, isn’t each day a new day? Each new day offers the chance to start over, do better, to be more prosperous and healthier.
Perhaps this year, the holiday spirit that lifts each of our souls can be maintained throughout the year. Perhaps this year, the true gift you receive and share with others will be the day you are living and you will learn to truly “appreciate the life you live.”
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Unfortunately, most of my family, friends, patients and colleagues will not learn to appreciate the lives they live. Most are caught up in the current of life, working to pay bills, send their kids to college, and plan for a mythical retirement. For most people, time flies by too fast to actually savor the beauty of the day you have. Each of us gets caught up in our own worries. I fret over the future of my beloved profession, wondering if I will be allowed to care for the souls entrusted to me. Others worry about losing their jobs, finding new jobs, their children’s future, etc.
Worrying about tomorrow and planning for tomorrow has become a national obsession and the price of that obsession is often the loss of the gift of today. If we can suspend our worries and concerns and get into the holiday spirit for 4 weeks every year, can’t we do the same 52 weeks a year? I think we can!
“Don’t delay the happy.” Appreciate the day you have, the life you have and the potential each and every day brings. I wish each and every one of you a Happy New Day and hope you will share it with every one whose life you touch!
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Dr. Segal blogs at www.livewellthy.org
