#421: Our Blank Slates

When we awake, we are all given a fresh 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds to use as wisely as we can . Every day we are provided a blank slate, clean and ready to have written on it our activities, thoughts, dreams, failures and achievements of the day .

From the wealthiest billionaire to the most impoverished people of the world , our slates are all the same. What is important is what we paint on those untouched canvasses.

We may not live in a luxury high-rise and may be fortunate to not need to worry where food or housing will come from, but within each of our life situations there remains opportunities for greatness and accomplishments.

But how wisely do we use our 24 hours? Do we lament what we do not have and bemoan the sadness of our stations in society ? Or do we attack our days with vigor and a positive outlook, ready to make the best use of our time as we possibly can ?

We know people who live in dire circumstances yet retain an optimistic outlook and give thanks for what meager possessions they have. They revel in being able to simply be alive and to have another chance at making a better life for themselves and their families. To them, their needs do not deter them from believing life is good.

What about the rest of us who are more blessed with housing, food, clothing and the other necessities of life? What is our attitude .

Many of us have read the blogs of one SP member who was burned out of her apartment and had to move in with relatives in a very small house and another who has an old van that has a muffler on its last legs and continually falls off or others who are waiting for decisions on disability or have lost their jobs or face other unfortunate situations.

Still, when we read those blogs, the members remain upbeat and inspiring, always trying to cheer others on and to urge us to make the best of our days .

If they and people in similar circumstances can overlook their troubles and continue to offer blessings to others , why can't those who do not face such tribulations do the same?

Rather than mope and complain about not having time to exercise, simply do it. Five or 10 minutes. Rather than turn to food we don't need due to stress or depression, clean something, go for a walk , write an encouraging letter to someone, answer a blog with an encouraging note or call a dear friend and tell them how proud you are to know them.

When we look at the great achievers of history, there are things they have in common -- they achieve. They do not waste their days. If confronted with a problem, they find a solution. They take action. They fill their daily slate with accomplishments and wish for more hours in the day.

Isn't that how we want to live? Not lying in bed all day and wallowing in a self-defeating attitude, but grasping the hours we are given and doing our best at whatever faces us, looking at our daily slates as opportunities for fulfillment and not as reflections of failure?

Let's fill our slates with hope, friendship, love and a belief that we are made for greatness . Let's believe in ourselves and be thankful for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us. Let's be grateful to be able to wake up to a fresh day with a clean slate and do our best to fill it with positive actions that carry us closer to reaching our goals and achieving our dreams.