What Did You Do Today?

It’s a question we encounter rather frequently.  I get it at least a couple times a week.

Not always, but the majority of the time I would guess our answer tends to follow a standard template.

We brush the inquiry aside as if nothing important has changed from yesterday, or the day before, or the day before that, or the day before that…

“Oh you know, went to work, ate some lunch, yada yada yada… now I’m tired.”

Getting stuck in a routine encourages us to yada yada over the best parts (and it’s not the lobster bisque you had for lunch).

I get it, sometimes we’re tired and just don’t feel like talking.  Maybe we think the person on the other end of the conversation won’t understand or appreciate the simplicity of our day.  If either of those is true, I challenge you to…

Take a Chance

If you had an amazing day that was seemingly unproductive in the eyes of others, speak about your adventures with pride and conviction.

No one else sees the world the way you do.  Your perspective is unique.

So why shouldn’t the way you describe your life be unique as well?

You might be surprised by the reaction of your listener when you decide to share a few details about your day.  They will either look at you as if a third eyeball spontaneously grew in the middle of your head, or they may just share in your excitement.

Just the other day I was fortunate enough to discover that a new friend of mine once had the same unusual goal I’m currently embarking upon (you don’t get to know what that goal is just yet, stay tuned).

We were able to talk about his failures and triumphs, allowing me to better plan my adventure.  Talk about serendipity (kind of like the movie, minus the whole falling in love thing).

It’s a peculiar thing when we slow down, escape the grasp of Facebook, turn off the Blackberries or iPhones and enjoy the journey a bit.

Make It a Habit

It doesn’t need to happen every day, but what if you could change how you viewed at least one day a week for one month?  Then one more day the next month, and then one more the next month, until the majority of your week is filled with new and exciting experiences (as simple as they may be).

Take a different route to work.  Notice the people around you.  What are they wearing?  What are they doing and saying? (People watching is the best!).   Gaze at the clouds as they slowly pass by (that one kind of looks like, a can of beans?).  Examine the movement of a squirrel as he scurries through oncoming traffic to reach the patch of grass across the street.

Imagine how that would feel; ignoring the clock and basking in the day.

Pause for a moment and take a deep, deep breath…. then exhale.

Can you sense a change in your mood just by thinking about it?  Neat.

Every day events can be rather amazing if you choose to look at them in a different light.

With that said, I’d like to share with you a very brief tale that chronicles the events of a very normal Thursday on December 2, 2010.

I had such a simple, yet amazing day!  It started with a delicious bowl of cereal; savored while looking out my kitchen window at the snow covered park across the street. What a relaxing feeling to let my mind wonder between each delicious spoonful.  After the last drop of milk was slurped from the bottom of the bowl, I was off to meet with a great collection of people in my business networking group. 

This was followed by a quick workout, consisting of running and pull-ups.  I ventured over to my office to meet with a sales rep for a custom tailored business wear discussion.  She postponed for an hour and a half, so I rescheduled.  The silver lining lay in the fact that I crossed paths with a good friend, providing me with the opportunity to personally hand him a flash drive containing some music I had collected for him.  The excitement and appreciation he exhibited was the best payment I could have received. 

I left the office and headed to an interview for a sales position at a national remodeling company.  The hiring manager listed his long line of accomplishments, all of course relating to his business.  His desire to impress was duly noted, but that is not what caught my attention.  The absence of a wedding ring was more intriguing than anything else.  It could have been myriad reasons as to why this middle aged man had no wife.  One thought entered my head, so I decided to speculate.  He had spent his entire life working his fingers to the bone, taking on every task imaginable in an attempt to achieve a high level of financial and professional success that he allowed himself no time to experience one of the greatest and most simple pleasures of life: love. 

That brief encounter inspired this entire piece of writing.  But my day doesn’t stop there.  The best is yet to come. 

As I was driving home, excited, anxious, and a little nervous about a wonderful dinner I had planned, I participated in a long lost game I hadn’t played in years.  Only this time my role was reversed from that which I played as a kid.   I saw the pure and innocent joy in a young boy’s eyes as he raced my car on foot from the edge of his yard to the end of the driveway.  A quick jerk of his head and a smirk in my direction had told me that he was the victor.

Continuing down the road I glanced out the window to catch the final rays of sun as they departed over the snow capped mountains.  My day was over, so what did I do today you ask?  Lived it to the fullest with a grin from ear to ear.

Keep drifting.