Recently I’ve had a number of people comment on our decision to drop everything and head off around the world for a year with our kids. They’ve used words like “brave” “incredible” and “crazy” to describe our decision. The truth is that what we’re doing is born out of a desire to live our lives to their fullest and to teach our children to do the same.
But people don’t come to realizations of this magnitude on their own. It takes years of growing up under incredible teachers even when the teachers aren’t fully aware they are teaching.
We’ve been lucky enough to find them throughout our lives but for me, most often, the lessons started at home.
This morning I woke up to the following note in an email forwarded to me by my father.
Food for thought!
Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest:
Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400.00 in your private account for your use.
However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules.
The first set of rules would be:
Everything that you didn’t spend during each day would be taken away from you.
You may not simply transfer money into some other account. You may only spend it.
Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day.
The second set of rules:
The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, It’s over, the game is over! It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do?
You would buy anything and everything you wanted right?
Not only for yourself, but for all people you love, right?
Even for people you don’t know, because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself, right?
You would try to spend every cent, and use it all, right?
ACTUALLY This GAME is REALITY!
Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just can’t seem to see it.
The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!
Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.
What we haven’t lived up that day is forever lost.
Yesterday is forever gone.
Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time….WITHOUT WARNING.
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?
Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.
Think about that, and always think of this:
Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.
Find your God-given purpose and learn from everything that comes your way. Every experience is meant for the next experience. Never mind that you will make mistakes but make sure you learn from them. There’s something you can take from every mistake.
Learn to forgive yourself and others…and enjoy life!
Here’s wishing you a wonderfully beautiful day.
God’s Richest Blessing Always.
Start spending…..
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It really says it all doesn’t it?
Thanks Dad. I’m well aware that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Loved this! Needed it today too. Thank you!
Hi Jenni,
You’re welcome. Glad it resonated with you too.
Love this! It’s inspired me to turn off the computer for an hour and invest in a long walk in the sun. Thanks for the reminder that time is precious.
Have to remind myself often! Carpe Diem.
Hi Heather,
I’m an old highschool friend of Ish and Pam and just noticed this on Ish’s FB. I don’t think this is brave or crazy, I think it is awesome and something I hope to do one day as well!
Bon Voyage!
Nice to *meet* you Sam. Thanks for reading and yes…just do it!
Oh man – I need to leave work… too many seconds spent here today & not with family. Thanks Heather.
Heather – so great to meet you on Saturday- I love this philosophy and it has been my experience that people often take apart and question what they are a little envious of-worried they are missing something. You are amazing and your children are lucky to have picked the two of you as parents. I look forward to following your journey!
Nice meeting you too Nancy. I tell the kids that all the time but they don’t believe me! :)
Incredible post. I think I need to keep this in front of me at all times.
I knew there was some really solid reasons why I loved you from the moment I met you. Clearly I would love your dad too:)
I love this because it is SO my my philosophy.
How come people keep acting as if they can put everything off until later? There is no guarantee of later. It’s now or never…carpe diem baby.
So true! I’ve seen too many people put too many things off for one day too long. Really hope the trip will inspire people to get out there and live.
thanks for the post… i cant convert my ideas to text like you did.. so i should respect you.