“I thank you for your…”

“I thank you for your part in my journey.”

-Author Unknown

Image from xoombi.com

Image from xoombi.com

The words “Thank You” are magical. They have brought more joy, happiness, satisfaction, and smiles to the world than most of us can imagine. In my youth, our parents, teachers, and community influencers taught us to say “please” and “thank you.”

Over the last decade or so, I’ve noticed these daily courtesies diminishing – perhaps due to the increasing pace of life. Many of us are increasingly overwhelmed by the demands and stresses to keep up or stay ahead. We often rationalize that we simply “don’t have the time.”

EXERCISE:

What is the cost to you and those around you when we don’t offer and receive quite as many “thank you’s” throughout the day as we used to?

What benefit would you see if you made it your job today to offer your most heartfelt “thank you’s” and gratitude to those who have helped you on your journey?

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.”

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.”

– Carl Sandburg

This quote originally appeared as #5 in The Quotable Coach series (https://www.thequotablecoach.com/time/time-is-the-coin-of-life). It has been so popular over the past year and a half that I wanted to share with you my father Marvin’s reflection on it. – Barry

When I was a young man and physically fit, I felt somewhat indestructible. Then at the age of 30, I decided to undergo surgery for my duodenal ulcer which was troubling me. Unfortunately in those days, surgery involved losing 80% of my stomach. I recovered nicely and my stomach grew so that I could eat a full meal, but not overeat.

At the age of 40, while driving to a counselors’ convention in Hershey, Pennsylvania, I suddenly got a severe pain in my head. God was with me while I pulled off the road and hailed the first car that I saw: the driver stopped. Soon after I found myself in the Hershey Hospital. I had suffered a stroke.

Now, at the age of 87, I find that each day is precious. I’m looking forward to warmer weather and my condo in Florida. I need to regain some of my strength, endurance, balance and flexibility by swimming regularly. I still have some quarters in the jar!

Exercise:

How many quarters are in your jar – and how will you be spending them over the next few weeks?

What would you do differently if you treated each day as precious?