Life is rarely perfect, but it’s always pretty darn good.

This morning I saw an elderly woman in a wheelchair rolling down the sidewalk in the pouring rain just
outside the coffee shop where I was writing. She was moving at a snail’s pace and I thought she might
be struggling, so I ran out into the rain and asked her if she needed assistance or a dry resting spot. She
smiled and said, “I appreciate it, but the rain feels great against my skin. I’m out here and going slow on
purpose.”

I loved her sentiment – talk about the epitome of appreciating life. And truthfully, life is simply too
short for anything less. When you’re young, you might feel like there’s a huge mass of time ahead of
you. But trust me, it passes much faster than you think. You get grey hairs before you feel like a real
adult. And then you have kids, and suddenly they’re off doing their own things. None of this is bad, of
course. It’s an extraordinary experience, as long as you pause long enough to appreciate it all.

So that’s what I want to reflect on today – quick reminders about the things life is just too short not to
appreciate…

1. A peaceful, mindful present. – The best way to prepare for the future is to take care of the
present. Goodbyes will always hurt a little. Photographs can never replace the act of being
there. Memories, good and bad, will sometimes bring tears. And words can never perfectly
describe the feelings they represent. But that’s OK. Pain is real. But so is hope. You have to
make peace with your past in order to keep your present and future from becoming hopeless
battles.

2. The good in everything. – The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one
thought over another. Train your mind to see the good in everything. Life is full of
beauty. Notice it. Notice the breeze through the trees, the small child learning to walk, and the
smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the sun on your skin. Live your life to the fullest potential,
and fight for the beauty of each precious moment.

3. Life’s surprises. – Notice and cherish life’s surprises. Just because it’s not what you were
expecting, doesn’t mean it’s not everything you’ve been waiting for. So take a deep breath
when you’re rejected from something good. It often means you’re being redirected to
something better. Be patient. Be positive. Keep going. (Read The Road Less Traveled.)

4. The challenges that strengthen you. – Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in life. If
we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be
as strong as what we could have been otherwise. So give every opportunity a chance – leave no
room for regrets. It takes courage to change and grow and become who you really are. Your
struggle is part of your story. And it’s a story worth writing.

5. Being YOU. – You’re an original, an individual, a masterpiece. Celebrate it! Don’t let your
uniqueness make you shy. Don’t be someone other than the wonder you are. Everyone has
 their own dreams, their own struggles, and a different path that makes sense for them. You are
YOU for a reason. Own it.

6. The gifts that are only yours. – Even when the competition seems fierce, realize that you are
only ever competing against yourself. When you catch yourself comparing yourself to a
colleague, neighbor, friend, or famous personality, stop! There’s no need. You are different,
with different strengths – strengths these other people don’t possess. Take a moment to reflect
on all the astounding abilities you have and to be grateful for the gifts that are only yours.

7. Ideas and activities that excite you. – Never give up on something that you can’t go a day
without thinking about. When you truly believe in what you’re doing, it shows, and it
pays. Success in life is for those who are excited about where they’re going. So find something
that you love – something that gets you so excited you can’t wait to get out of bed in the
morning. That’s what life is all about. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live a life you
are excited about. Don’t let anyone or anything make you forget that.

8. The simple things. – It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary. I believe this
to be true and have experienced this with my own family. When I think of the times where we
laughed the most or had the most fun, it was when we were doing simple, everyday things like
swimming in a pool, taking a long walk, combing a beach for shells, playing a board game, or
sharing a delicious meal.

9. The excitement and freedom of vulnerability. – Being vulnerable is helpful to both ourselves
and others. It makes us bigger in the world – the more open we are, the more there is of us out
there. So open up. Allow yourself to feel, to be real and authentic. Tear down any emotional
brick walls you have built around yourself and feel every exquisite emotion, both good and
bad. This is life. This is how you welcome new opportunities.

10. Inner beauty. – As if you were on fire from within, your magnificence lives in the lining of your
skin. In other words, beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart and soul. Everything
will line up perfectly when knowing and living the truth of who you are on the inside becomes
more important than looking good on the outside. (Read A New Earth.)

11. Giving without expecting anything in return. – As a child, I always thought the expression, “It’s
better to give than to receive” was trite and silly. As an adult, I recognize the expression’s
value. Having the capacity to give means you possess a mindset of abundance. Having the will
to give means you want to make a difference in the world. Having the desire to give means you
care. And nothing is more powerful than that.

12. The feeling of doing the right thing. – There is plenty of good in this world and it’s worth paying
attention to and fighting for. So always seek and do what is right, not what is easy. BE the
change you want to see.
13. The act of loving. – Love is a lifestyle. Let love win. Love fearlessly and without limits. No act of
love or kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Love never loses in the long run. Where
you invest your love, you invest your life.

14. Everyone around you for being who they are. – If you judge people, you have no time to love
them. So pay close attention, and respect people for who they are and not for who you want
them to be. Loving and respecting others means allowing them to be themselves, whether you
choose to be a part of their life or not.

15. The whole truth. – It’s better to be hurt by the truth and grow from it, than be comforted by a
lie. And beware of half-truths too – you may have gotten ahold of the wrong half. Open your
eyes. You must see things how they are instead of how you hoped, wished or expected them to
be. Sometimes it’s hard to accept the truth when the lies were exactly what you wanted to
know, but be strong. Life is too short to live a lie.

16. Your self-respect. – It’s always better to be alone with dignity than in a relationship that
constantly requires you to sacrifice your happiness and self-respect. When you let someone
repeatedly hurt you, you are saying to them, “You matter more to me than my own self-respect
and dignity.” You must take a stand and be willing to part ways with people whom you know
you’ve given numerous chances to. Though letting go can cause lots of initial pain, it may be
necessary medicine, providing you with the best possible life in the long run. (Marc and I discuss
this in detail in the “Relationships” chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do
Differently.)

17. The dualities of life. – Experience life in all possible ways – the good and the bad, the bitter and
the sweet, the dark and the light, the summer and the winter. Experience all of life’s
dualities. Don’t be afraid of experience, because the more experience you have, the more life
you truly live, and the more clearly you understand just how beautiful it is.

18. The balance between feeling good and growing. – We must consistently check with ourselves:
“Am I committed to feeling good right now, or am I committed to growing?” Either way is fine
for the moment, as long as you dance between the two in the long run. Because growth does
not always feel good, and feeling good does not always provide growth. And both are necessary
states of being.

19. A healthy body. – Your health IS your life. Never underestimate the gift of feeling strong and
well. It’s the greatest wealth you will ever own. It’s the foundation for every chance at
happiness and success life has to offer. So cut the excuses and treat yourself right! Take care of
your body every single day – it’s the engine of your desires, and the only place you will ever truly
live.

20. Aging. – Manage aging, but why fight it? You can spend a fortune on face creams, plastic
surgery, hair growth formulas, and Botox, but eventually you realize you are fighting an uphill
battle. Groom yourself nicely. Stay fit. Have unhealthy things removed. But accept the beauty
of aging. A striking, mature man or woman is much more attractive than someone who looks
overly taunt, tanned or top-heavy. Remember, the allure of a truly beautiful person, with
passing years only grows.