Vow #9 - Each Night I Will Examine My Deeds of the Fading Day

My wife and I developed a tradition with our children while they were growing up. We had this thing where every night as we sat down for dinner, we would ask our four kids, “Okay, So what was your good thing today, and what was your bad thing?”

The kids hated it because it forced them to think and talk when all they wanted to do was chill and eat. But it was a really good thing to do. We almost always ended up with some pretty lively conversations. In our house, we kept the lines of communication open as much as possible and tried to get our kids to think about complex issues as well as the simple day to day of life. As much as the kids complained about it, I firmly believe that when they are parents, they will do the same thing with their kids!

Now that I look back on it, I see that what we were doing, was “examining the deeds of our day”, without even realizing that we were doing it at the time. I recommend this practice for everyone because only by carefully weighing the progress and the problems of our journey, will we be able to create a diary for today and a textbook for tomorrow.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Vow #8 - I Will Persist Until I Succeed

When I was a struggling young salesperson in my twenties, I worked for a wholesale lighting supply company in Irvine. One Monday morning, the boss gave me the challenge of landing the biggest account in our area. It was a huge property management company that owned apartments, shopping centers, and office buildings. It would be the largest account that we could ever add to our company, but it would also be an extremely difficult challenge.

I knew it would be really hard, but I was young and full of energy and enthusiasm. As I started making sales calls, I was turned down over and over and the business always went to the larger companies in town. But I never gave up and just kept knocking at their door with polite firmness. I figured as long as I kept knocking, I still had a chance. One day, the Purchasing Manager allowed me to meet with him in person for a few minutes, so I gave him my price quote along with my best sales pitch. I left that day with a signed purchase order in my hand and a great compliment, at least I think it was a compliment. The Purchasing Manager said, “I am not giving you business because you have the best pricing. I’m giving it to you because you’re so darn persistent!”

According to the great author Og Mandino, “The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to us to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach our goals. We may encounter failure after a thousand steps, yet success may be hiding behind the very next bend in the road. We will never know how close it lies unless we turn the corner.”

Always take another step. 

If that doesn’t work, take another, and yet another.

In truth, one step at a time is not too difficult for anyone.

Vow #7 - With Patience I Will Control My Destiny

Every priceless attribute which wise men trumpet as necessary for the achievement of success is useless without patience and there are generally two areas where patience is needed most.

First, is with circumstances. Typically, it will be circumstances such as wanting to be promoted at work but not having the education or experience to be there yet. Or wanting to be a great musician but not having practiced enough yet. Or wanting to get to work on time but being held up in traffic by an accident. Sometimes the circumstances are beyond our control and other times, it is just a matter of being patient. When it comes to circumstances, patience can truly help us to control our frustration and forge a better future.

Second, is when we are in a long-term relationship with someone we truly love. Sharing your life with a chosen partner means exercising patience on a daily basis. It is not easy for two people to live together sharing a home, the chores, the struggles, and the many burdens without an occasional problem. On my bathroom mirror I have taped one of my favorite sayings. It has helped calm my spirit and remind me to be patient on many occasions where the stresses of the day have threatened to crowd their way into my relationship with the woman I love so very, very much.

It is only three sentences long, but the words are potent and the message is powerful.

Patience is not passive.

On the contrary, it is active.

It requires concentrated strength.

Vow #6 - I Will Remember to Be True to Myself

When we are young, it’s difficult to figure out who we are. How can we be ourselves when we don’t even know who we really are yet? We haven’t yet discovered our own talents. We haven’t yet discovered what we like, who we like, where we want to go, where we want to live. The list is endless. But even at a young age, we know inside that our heart speaks to us.

All you have to do is listen to your heart. It will guide you as to the person you are and the person you can be. Listen, learn and reflect on your own feelings. What do you enjoy? What motivates you? What challenges you? What is your passion? What makes you happy?

However, sometimes you do not choose your calling, your calling chooses you. You have been blessed with special skills that are yours alone. Use them, whatever they may be, and forget about wearing another’s hat. A talented filmmaker can win fame and fortune with his skills but let him get in front of the camera and he would starve.

No one can take your place. Realize this and be yourself. You have no obligation to succeed. You have only the obligation to be true to yourself. And remember, to be what you are and to become what you are capable of becoming, is one of the best kept secrets to a happy life!

Sometime in your life you will go on a journey.

It will be the longest journey you have ever taken.

It is the journey to find yourself.

Vow #5 - I Will Live This Day As If It Is My Last

I don’t know if this will be my last day on earth, but what I do know is that I have been given a choice. I can choose to live my life one day at a time, making the most of it and using the tools God gave me, or I can waste it, one day at a time.

What if I did know that today was going to be my last day on earth? What would I do?

Or what if this was not my last day on earth – but it was the last day on earth for someone I know. How would I treat them?

Maybe we can take our cue from children. They know how to live life correctly. They do not worry over so many things. They do not fret about life. They simply live it. They run and laugh and play all day and make the most of the moment. In fact, somewhere in the Bible it says that the only way to get into heaven is to be like children, filled with wonder, devoid of anxiety, and open to all the beauty the world has to offer. As much as we have to teach them - so is there also a lot to be learned from them. They know how to live life to the fullest, every single day. Let us not forget that.

How the children loved to dance!

Somehow, they all seemed to share a spirit of gratitude,

for how good it is to have friends, and to love God,

and for the sheer privilege of being alive!