After hearing some positive recommendations from friends, I started catching up on the show How I Met Your Mother during my travels. Just the other day, I watched an episode from season 3 entitled No Tomorrow in which the main character, Ted, meets his friend Barney at a bar on St. Patrick’s Day and vows to live that night like there is no tomorrow. Although months have passed since his breakup, Ted is still recovering from it, partying more, and living quite differently than he used to. Ted sees no fault in it until his friend Marshall basically shines a light on his lifestyle.
Years in the future, a now married Ted tells his children:
“Kids, it’s sometimes possible to think you’re doing just fine in life…
…And then someone opens your eyes a little bit…
…And you realize…
…Your whole world is off balance…
…Out of whack…
…Crooked”
This narration popped in my head again as I saw the first few minutes of the new season of The Biggest Loser last night. I saw a group of people all vowing to change their health habits.
I know I’ve felt like I’ve been “doing just fine life,” only to recognize on further reflection that things aren’t quite perfect–that part of my world is off balance and that I can live differently.
Over the past few months, I’ve tried to make some positive changes in my life–in terms of my health and how I eat & exercise while traveling, in terms of my business and what value I bring to my audience, and in terms of my relationships and how I nurture them. I’m far from perfect, but I like the direction I’m beginning to head although there is still a ways to go.
I know that a popular quote is to “live like there is no tomorrow,” but I wonder what our lives would be like if we lived like there are many tomorrows.
Not so that we procrastinate
Not so that we become lazy
Rather, so that we consider the type of lifestyle that we can enjoy on a daily basis:
Friendships rich in laughter and understanding.
Careers that challenge and stretch us.
Volunteering that enriches our souls.
Today, I hope that we all can figure out a few things we can put a final “no” to in our lives, so that we can all “know” a tomorrow we love.