“Life is a great big canvas,
and you should throw all the
paint on it you can.”
~Danny Kaye
~Danny Kaye
2008-0217 (156) Lotus Flower by jenniferphoon
Do you ever take time to think about the fact that each and
every morning is a brand new day – one that has never been and one that will
never be again?
Too often, we just coast through life, allowing one day to
fade into another. Before we realize it, days have become months and months
have become years and we lament lost time. The above quote by Danny Kaye is a
call to intentional living.
I once heard someone state that his memory was “painted with
colors that would never fade.” This quote resonated with me because that is the
kind of rich, memorable life that I seek. I want my life to be meaningful and full of
colorful experiences for me and my family.
A Challenge
Below is one of my favorite pictures. I keep a copy of the
picture beside my desk at work as a reminder that each day is a blank canvas
waiting to be painted. What I choose to do with the blank canvas is, mostly, up
to me.
Below are ten suggestions for making today count. Choose one
and decide to intentionally do it today. These are very simple ideas, but as
you make a choice to intentionally “throw some color on the canvas,” you will
be creating memories and, more importantly, making today count.
- Keep a journal.
- Record your magic moments. (I wrote about this here – it’s worth reading)
- Create a magic moment for someone else today. (suggestions: buy four $5 McDonalds gift cards and hand them out, write an uplifting note to a colleague at work, let someone cut in front of you in traffic)
- Participate in Project 365, where you take one picture a day for a year. My wife has done this for the past two years and it provides a great record of our lives.
- Take 5 minutes and listen to a favorite piece of music.
- Take a 5-minute walk outside and really pay attention to your surroundings.
- Memorize scripture – start with Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
- Set a goal - decide on something simple that you want to accomplish and commit it to paper; then, decide the date by which you will accomplish your goal. (For ideas read here, here, and here.)
- Drive a different route to or from work - you might be surprised at what you notice.
- Turn off the TV tonight and do something intentional.
So, get going! Throw some colorful, vivid paints on today's blank canvas!
QUESTION: What other suggestions do you have for making TODAY count? Please leave comments below.
