According to Facebook and all other social media, everyone is living the greatest lives, they have all kinds of money, no marital troubles, they have the greatest job and their kids can do no wrong. In all actuality, the world is a bitter place right now. Contrary to post updates, most people are stressed out, depressed in some form or another, jealous of others, and even go through life angry.
Everyone wants to have a better life!
But is the better life having more money, driving new cars, living in a new house, having the best of the best?
Maybe to some, but not for me. The older I get (I’m approaching 41 in a few weeks), the more I appreciate the small things in life. I’ve realized that it is not money or expensive things, it is what you leave behind and the relationships that you create that is important.
It is your Legacy!
And it doesn’t have to be some great Michael Jordan-type Legacy, your legacy should be how you make people feel, especially those close to you.
Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Our lives should be about leaving this world in a better place than it was when we were here. We can do this by the relationships that we are afforded. We have this ability on a daily basis. For me, I am lucky enough to work with hundreds of young athletes, male and female, and I have that ability create life lasting impact on them as well as the impact that they leave on me.
Listen, this is a new awakening for me. I love where I am at in my life with my outlook on it, and how I appreciate people and the small things in life. When I reflect on my life, I don’t even remember that 16 year old football player who swore he was going to the NFL ( I never had a shot), or the 21 year old partying maniac, I just know that I have some great memories and met some great friends and people along the way.
I am always trying to better myself every day in every possible way that I can and you need to do the same as well. But just be happy and appreciative that you are still living and breathing and have another opportunity to do something good.
Two of my favorite things are paying the people that work with me and paying my rent because this lets me know that I have another month to do it again. It lets me know that I am alive!
Don’t let small things get you down! Don’t let something that you read on your social media ruin your day, not even a minute of your time. Life is short and very fast.
I was getting my haircut the other day and I was looking at myself in the mirror as the barber was shaving me up and I couldn’t help but think to myself how much I aged and changed over 40 years. I remember getting my haircut when I was a kid and remembering how young I looked compared to now; more wrinkles, more scars, and definitely some less hair. You’d think it would’ve bothered me, but instead I couldn’t help but smile and feel a sense of pride because I am happy where I am in life and that I have the opportunity to make a difference.
We need to be grateful for what we have!