The best day of my life!

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1. The best day of my life!

Recently a friend went to a beautiful vacation resort. Towering mountains, breathtaking scenery, and numerous trails for horseback riding and hiking. He felt all set for a very special vacation, and as he went to bed his first night there he felt excited.
Only to wake up the next morning to a driving rainstorm, that was certain to not go away for quite a while!

"Oh well," Andy thought, "Might as well sleep a bit longer."

He went down to breakfast at 10 AM and sat by a window as he watched the rain falling endlessly. Just as he was finishing his meal he saw a man in the distance, slowly making his way towards the lodge. The man was walking very slowly as he supported himself with two arm brace crutches.

Andy sat transfixed watching the man take one careful step after another, slowly making his way over the slippery terrain.

After about ten minutes time the man finally made his way to the lodge, and Andy jumped up to open the door and help him in.

"Good morning," Andy said, "How are you doing?"

"Best day of my life!" the man said with great enthusiasm, "How are you doing?"

Andy felt himself at a loss for words. "Could be better," he said in a hesitating voice, "But I'm doing OK."

What's the matter, don't you like the rain?" the man asked.

"The rain?" Andy said, "I was counting on going horseback riding today, so I must say that the rain does not please me."

"I was counting on going horseback riding myself," the man said, "But walking in the rain is just as good if not better!"

Andy stood there and watched as the man slowly made his way through the lounge area.

"Wow," he thought, "This guy must know something I don't!"

Later in the day, as the rain continued to fall, Andy saw the man sitting in the lobby and asked if he could have a seat nearby.

"Sure," the man said, "Happy to sit with you and have a chat."

And slowly the man's story unfolded.

Years ago he had been a champion equestrian, until one day he got thrown from a horse and was badly injured. He was unconscious for more than a week, and then he slipped in and out of consciousness for another week. Each time he became aware of himself lying in bed he was not sure if he was indeed still alive, or whether he was having the dream of a dead man. Whenever he came to, he would lie there and listen for the voices of the staff and doctors who always came by the moment they realized he had regained consciousness.

"Every time I woke up and heard the staff," he said, "I was so happy to know I was still alive! Every time I woke up I understood that to be alive at all is truly a miracle!"

"And I have kept that sense of miracle with me through the last fifty seven years. Every morning when I first start to stir, and realize I am still alive, I am truly thankful. I realize that today could be the last day of my life, and it can also be the best day of my life, if I make it so."

"You are still young," the man said to my sixty year old friend Andy, "Don't let the hardships and challenges of life drain away your sense of enthusiasm and wonder. Even the happiest of lives has many struggles along the way. Every morning that you DO wake up, rejoice in the fact that you are still alive, and be sure to assure yourself, Today is the best day of my life!"

2. Commentary

The basis of today's story is the same as much of what I write. I have a conversation with a friend or client, not expecting that anything particularly special will occur, and then Zap! my counterpart hits me with a bolt of wisdom.

Today's story unfolded when I met a long time friend in the afternoon of what seemed to me, to be a very ordinary day. I gave my friend a hug and asked "How are you doing?" My friend replied, "Best day of my life!" and I was immediately somewhat surprised by his response, and very definitely inquisitive to know more. My friend then proceeded to tell me the same basic story that I share with you above.

Since then, my friend and I have met a number of times. When either one of us asks "How are you doing?" the other one of us will now invariably reply "Best day of my life!" and the story of the "disabled" man will pop into our consciousness and give us both cause to pause.

Often, we wind up talking about how this man has blessed us both, with his wisdom, courage, and spirit. How the both of us are still very much beginners when it comes to truly appreciating the life that we DO have.

Simply being alive is an amazing gift that I often lose touch with. A gift that I often fail to receive. Instead of being thankful for my life, I have a tendency to focus on what is missing, what I want that I don't have, the current difficulties I am facing.

The story of this courageous man also leads me back to an important understanding I have had in the past:
What happens to me during the course of my life - the trials and tribulations, the winning and the losing, is not what is most important. What is most important is how I react to what happens. Do I take my disabilities and convert them into a reason to be thankful, an occasion to celebrate my life, like the man in the story? Or do I use my hardships as a reason for feeling cheated, frustrated, or depressed? The choice is always mine to make, regardless of whether or not I am "happy" about what has occurred.

How about you? Do you have a disability or two that would serve you well to be thankful for?
If so, why wait any longer?
Today can be the best day of your life!

3. Practice

I would suggest that if possible, you explore this Practice with a friend. You can of course also do this Practice "on your own" by interacting with various people that you meet. I find doing the Practice with a friend offers me the best reinforcement, feedback, and exchange of ideas and enthusiasm.

Here is what I think is important in regard to this Practice:
I am not suggesting you make believe that you are not mightily tested by some of the challenges you face.
What I am suggesting is that you cultivate being thankful for having at least one more minute, or perhaps even one more entire day, to fully live to the best of your ability. The more you can appreciate being alive TODAY, the better each Today will seem to you.

At some point in time, the gift of life will be taken away from all of us. The idea being, to appreciate your life while you still have the chance. The very fact that you are still not "pushing up daisies" can be a reason for great happiness!

1. Fortify yourself with some music of thankfulness and play it fairly often.
This is an important first step, because upbeat thankful music will very definitely help you to feel more positive and appreciative.

Aretha Franklin, Linda Worster, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Handel, Lucinda Williams, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Jennifer Berezan... Who else?

2. Share your music selections with a special friend, and ask them to select and share some of their favorite songs of thankfulness with you.

3. Share the "Best day of my life!" story with your friend.

4. Discuss with each other what the story leads you to feel and think about.

5. Commit to doing your best to give thanks for each day you are alive, even if you still feel like a bit of a beginner in this regard.

6. Every morning as you lay in bed, when you first begin to stir and travel back to this mortal realm...
Say "Thank you"
Say "Today is going to be the best day of my life!" Or, "Today is the best day of my life!"
Once again, say "Thank you!"

Then take a couple of deep breaths and let the feeling of thankfulness really sink in.

(The above statements are just suggestions, and not meant to be fixed statements that you have to state as written. Be creative and make up your own statements!)

7. Contact your friend on a regular basis and take turns asking each other, "How are you doing?" and replying with "Best day of my life!" or something similar.

8. Continue this entire process for at least six months, and then review how your appreciation of life has changed.

I think you just might find this Practice helps you to have a much fuller appreciation of life!

Private Sessions with Charlie Badenhop in April 2006 New York City: April 17, 18 Washington, DC: April 10, 11, 12 If you would like to: Explore core issues, such as your current identity, your health, or destructive habit patterns, Feel more fully alive and emotionally balanced, Explore the direction of your professional or personal life, A Seishindo in-person private session can prove to be of great value. Read more about how you can benefit from a Seishindo private session. Read what other people say about Seishindo sessions. If you think you might be interested in a private session, please contact Charlie directly at charlie@seishindo.org.