​Psst! No one can do what you can.
 
Sounds kind of cliché, right? And in many senses, it may be. But the reality is there is no one else exactly like you who will be in the exact places you’ll be at the exact times you’ll be there. And you are destined for greatness.
 
“Not everyone is great,” you may be thinking. And I can see where you’re coming from. What one person considers great may seem foolish to another. Regardless, you were destined to be a great influence in someone’s life. It’s true.
 
Maybe you’ll see someone on the side of the road in need of help and stop to assist. You won’t become famous for that, but the person you help will think you’re pretty great.
 
Perhaps you’ll encounter a person down on his or her luck who just needs a listening ear. Have you ever just wanted to be heard? Oftentimes, saying our thoughts out loud helps us make more sense of them — even if the other person doesn’t say anything in return.
 
Maybe you’ll accompany a friend to her first cancer treatment to help put her mind at ease.
 
It doesn’t take much to be great. But what a difference it can make. That person on the side of the road may be headed to the hospital to visit his wife and newborn child. The help and hope you gave will be passed on to that new life.
 
The person who just wanted to be heard might go on to become a counselor and help others through their trials — all because you took the time to listen.
 
The cancer survivor could start a support group to help other cancer patients through their treatments because of the difference you made in her life.
 
You never know the effect sharing a little of your time will have. And you may not see the results. The reality is none of the people you help will likely become famous, and that’s OK. Everyone needs help from time to time. Giving of yourself can be a better reward than fame. 

​Congratulations! You woke up this morning. That’s reason to celebrate. And that’s only one good thing about today. Many others await.
 
Working in the corporate world, I’ve noticed an epidemic of people living for the weekends. Admittedly, I’ve even fallen into that mindset at times. But it’s something I never wanted to do.
 
I try to make it a point to celebrate each day in light of itself rather than with Friday in mind. Every day is a unique gift, waiting to be unwrapped. What will I find when I untie the ribbon? What mystery will unfold when I peel back the wrapping paper?
 
Sure, work can be challenging, demanding, and overwhelming sometimes. But it can also be fun, exciting, and productive. A lot of it depends on our attitudes. If I go to work expecting it to be a tough day, I’m likely to encounter more challenges than if I arrive at work ready to conquer my tasks and be victorious. And in the latter scenario, I’m more apt to have fun along the way, too.
 
Regardless of my outlook on life a particular day, people are watching me. They’re watching you, too, to see how you react, how you handle the happenings of the day. You have more influence than you realize.
 
Each day gives us a new chance to make a difference in the lives of those around us. We can influence others for good or for bad.
 
As you carefully open the package of today, I hope you find reason to celebrate. It will be easier if you’re looking to find good. After all, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.

I had the best of intentions. I aimed to get to that project I learned about two months ago. I didn’t mean to let my friend down. But in reality, I had.
 
Has that ever happened to you?
 
I kept chipping away at my to-do list and finally got around to what my friend had asked me to do. But why did it take so long? What kept me from making it a higher priority? And what if I hadn’t gotten to it even still?
 
We all have good intentions. You’ve likely heard the proverb, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions,” which summarizes the dilemma. The truth is we judge ourselves by our intentions, but we judge others by their actions. It’s a double standard, and it’s not fair.
 
Think about the last time you had to wait for someone to do something for you or to get back to you about a matter. How did that waiting period feel? Wasn’t it frustrating to know that your priority wasn’t your friend’s? How do we remedy that?
 
The best solution is to take the Golden Rule to heart: Treat others the way you want to be treated. If we want to be a priority in the lives of others, then we have to make them a priority in ours. As with many things, it’s easier said than done.
 
It would probably also help to have the same standard for ourselves that we have for others. A lot of times, that’s not the case. The grace we judge ourselves with should be extended to those around us.
 
And we need to know our limits. If we’re steadily busy with extracurricular activities, we don’t do our friends any favors when we say we can help with their requests — but know we can’t really get to them in a timely fashion. We need to be willing to say no in those cases. No, we don’t like to let friends down, but our honesty actually helps them and avoids disappointing them. If they know we’re too busy to help with a certain project, that frees them to seek help from someone else.
 
Contrary to popular belief, the thought doesn’t really count. It’s the follow-through that matters. What can you accomplish today that you’ve been meaning to get to for a while?

You might also like:
​5 Ways to Be Happy With Your Life Right Now
Getting Back on Track
​Willingness to Ask