Merriness

God Grant Me the Vision to Enjoy Life Fully

Even a small step in the right direction is a big step.

When I rewrote the Serenity Prayer to focus more on the Joy of living and personal happiness the goal was to positively impact the individual, provide a foundation to live joyfully....., and pay it forward by proactively spreading joy.

God grant be the vision to enjoy live fully.

So why is vision important to live fully?

By nature, we are leery of our environment. As humans, we are watchful with a predisposition to assume that danger is just around the corner. It was/is necessary for survival. Today, the threats may have changed but they are still out there. Most of us do not worry about being attacked by a tiger. However, we are all aware that there are sharks (real and metaphorical) in the water. For some, like police officers, their sense of danger must be honed to even a greater degree. For the rest of us, every day we receive news of dangers influencing our outlook on life.

Along with the everyday physical dangers are the everyday societal dangers we must survive. We are taught to "watch out for number one". In business, traffic, and even in home life, situations arise that can make us feel the entire cosmos is against us. There are evenings we fall into bed feeling beaten and abused wondering how we will make it through the next day. As songwriter put it, "Its a jungle out there", and every day we face that jungle.

Each morning we awaken and go through our morning routine steeling ourselves for the world that awaits us. We make our mental list what we need to accomplish that day and who or what may get in the way of our success. Then, just before we walk out the door most of us put on blinders. We become so focused on our mental to-do list, the problems we have to solve at the office and latter at home and the slights we are going to endure over the day that we become oblivious to most of what is going on around us. We are prepared to see the obstacles, the challenges, and the threats to our lives with great clarity. Unfortunately, that laser focus keeps us from seeing much of the good going on around us.

NO WONDER IT IS TOUGH TO HAVE AN ENJOYABLE DAY! JOY JUST DOESN'T MAKE THE CUT FOR MOST OF US AS WE START OUR DAY!!

When I get into the car before the key goes into the ignition, I have to take a moment and a breath to remove the blinders. My "to-do list" is still very much present, but I also make an effort to be present, "to see", all there is to see going on around me. Yes, the bad will still be there, but if I expand my vision, and be present I get to see the good, and that brings me Joy. By opening my eyes, and really seeing what is going on I will notice so many pleasant exchanges and sights. They can only be seen with the blinders off and my being open to the world (and people) around me. The puppy in the car next to me (literally saw one a pug wearing a Minnesota football jersey), a waitress and a diner exchanging a laugh, the infant's and the toddler's love for one another. or a child succeeding riding a two-wheeler for maybe the second or third time. All are moments of joy, positive and uplifting events that I would miss if I didn't take a moment to remove the blinders. All providing the joy I need to get through the tough parts of my day.

Life, being has challenging as it, is some mornings requires divine intervention to remove the blinders and gain a present perspective. This is why my rewrite of the serenity prayer begins with the line "God grant me the vision to enjoy life fully".

DO YOU KNOW WHO (OR WHAT) YOU SERVE?

Happiness and fulfillment can only be achieved when you know WHO you serve.

You must serve somebody - inanimate objects cannot provide happiness and fulfillment

Living through service is living in gratitude.

In a perfect world, life's rewards would be generated by how well we served others. Our currency would be a combination of the joy we have in doing for others and the gratefulness others have for what we do for them. In my life, I have found when I focus my talents, gifts, and skills to serving others I am more joyful and generally more financially happy. I tell my kids all the time that you only have to be in the top five percent of what you do to be financially successful. The trick is finding what you really enjoy doing. Love surfing, be in the top five percent of surfers and you will make a good living. Love figuring out financing. Be in the top five percent of financial people and you will make a good living. Just keep it about doing what you are naturally good at and love doing. Put that in service to others and enjoy the benefits.

The best CEO I ever worked for understood the importance of working in service to company employees. She knew if employees are not happy and empowered to do their job the business would eventually fail. The CEO's success has more to do with serving employees than worrying about stockholders. Her success was also more fun for her because she had a great deal more control over empowering and supporting employees than all the factors influencing stockholders. Employees came first, customers came second, community came third, and shareholders came forth. Employees first has been a business philosophy for quite some time and are well understood by the leadership of today's most successful companies. Working in service to the company is hollow and leaves an emptiness. Working in service to employees and co-workers delivers joy in achievement, trustful teaming, and gratefulness for working in such an empowering environment.

Living in service to others at home is modeling successful and happy behavior. I know for me that I am less angry and much more approachable with a philosophy of service leading my way and have found that service to others creates an atmosphere of thankfulness and gratitude. It will help deliver positive outcomes and teach children how to be successful in life. Does this mean allowing yourself to be taken advantage of? Absolutely not! Providing a list of chores for children also teaches valuable lessons. Finding time for myself is necessary and important. Keeping your primary relationship first in the home focuses living in service on the foundation of the family. If you want a loving family environment bring a "living through service" attitude into the home and watch life blossom.

I am asked, what about living in service to God, and have wrestled with this question myself. Whether right or wrong, I have come to this. Serving others ethically and morally will be graced with God's love. My challenge is to learn and understand the ethical and moral teaching of my faith and then apply that in service to others. All that is in my control is how I treat and serve others, praying for the guidance and, when needed, strength from God. By using my talents, gifts, and skills in service to others, I enjoy the service I provide and am grateful to be living in service to others. Delivering my service in an ethical and morally just way in the grace of God's guidance gives me joy.

Finally, living through service requires us to recognize and appreciate the service of others. Being joyful recipients acknowledging the service of others completes the service circle, and raises the level of joy and happiness as both the producer and recipient of good deeds.