Live Life to the Fullest

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Seize the day. Live life NOW, and live life to the fullest.

Welcome to the LifeExcellence Newsletter!
March 12, 2003
Written & Published by Brian E. Bartes
http://www.lifeexcellence.com

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LifeExcellence: Empowering People to Pursue the Best
In Themselves - In Business, At Home and in LIFE!

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Table of Contents:

1. Baby Steps
2. Feature Article: LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST
3. Quotes
4. Recommended Resources
5. Self-Care: Fighting Colds
6. Final Thoughts: Always Create Your Own Dreams and Live
Life to the Fullest

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1. Baby Steps

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. When you look back
on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the
ones you did. Carpe diem. Carpe diem. Seize the day. Live life
NOW, and live life to the fullest.

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2. Feature Article: LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST

Kevin was just 42 years old when he died of a heart attack. He was
in the prime of his life: Happily married, the father of two small
children, a successful banker. My guess is that, when he left that
weekend to go to his friend's cottage, he may have been very casual
in saying goodbye to his wife and children. Surely, the thought of
not returning didn't enter his mind.

Marcia was 40 when she finally lost her battle with cancer. She, too,
was happily married. She had a young son, and she had grown very
close to her family through this trying ordeal.

Kodey was 11. He had barely begun life, and then it was over. He
had been healthy during those 11 years, until the virus swept in and
ended his life very quickly.

I knew Kevin, Marcia and Kodey. There have been others, too.
Though the others' deaths were not as sudden, not as unexpected,
they too reminded me of this lesson: Live life to the fullest.

Napolean Hill, one of the world's greatest motivational authors,
said that "every adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent
or greater benefit." I believe that the lesson, live life to the fullest,
is the equivalent or greater benefit that came as a result of these
tragedies.

You see, God doesn't promise us tomorrow. Every day men,
women and children die. Some after lengthy illness, others suddenly.
We just don't know when our number is up, when our time has
come, when life here on earth is no more. So, in the meantime, live
life to the fullest.

Here's my question for you: Are you living life to the fullest? What
would you do differently if you knew that you only had one year
to live? How about one month? What if today would be your last?

I ask these questions not to be morbid, or negative, or to burden
you with the responsibility of having to think about your response.
I ask them because we have the wonderful opportunity to think
about "how we would life our lives if...," and to begin living that
life today. We have the opportunity to make adjustments in the way
we live our lives, so that we are doing the things that are important
to us. So that we are indeed "living life to the fullest."

Fortunately, we are alive and well, not lying on our deathbed,
longing for "another chance." People who have come close to death
often say that they have different priorities no than they did before.
They don't take things for granted anymore. They realize the how
short life is, and how quickly it can end. Their focus changes.

None of them, when reflecting in their hospital bed, think "if I make
it through this, I'm going to spend more time at work." Rather, they
think about doing more of what they love to do. They think about
enjoying more time with their family. They think about the
difference they can make--in their own lives, and in the lives of others.

Don't wait until you're lying on your deathbed. Don't wait until
tragedy strikes someone around you. Live life NOW. Live life to
the fullest.

Here's the good news: Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
You get to choose to live life to the fullest. Here are some things to
think about as you make that choice:

What kind of person do you want to be? Do you want to listen
more and talk less? Do you want to smile more? Worry less? Be
more relaxed, with less stress? Do you want to be more spontaneous,
to have more fun? Do you want to be more curious? Decide what
kind of person you want to be. Then start living that way.

What do you want to be doing? Do you want to read more and
watch less TV? Visit museums more and Blockbuster less? Do you
want to listen to more classical music? Learn a hobby, or a foreign
language? Do you want to enroll in an aerobics class, or learn yoga?
Do you want to eat more broccoli, and fewer french fries?

What kind of parent / child / friend do you want to be? Do you
want to hug more, and yell less? Do you want to keep in touch with
friends, especially the ones who have moved away? Do you want
to, just once: Eat spaghetti on the living room floor? Tell your kids
to go out and get grass stains on their new pants? Say "I know it's
getting late, and you have school tomorrow. But why don't you
stay up just a few minutes longer?" Do you want to go for more
bike rides? Fly more kites? Have more meaningful conversations
with friends and family members? Do you want to say more "I
love you's," more "I'm sorry's" and more "thank you's?"

How will you live life at work? Do you want to work less and
make more? Do you want to tell your boss to "take this job and
shove it?" Do you want to moonlight as a dancer? A singer? A
consultant? Do you want to pursue your passion, your calling in
life? Do you want to do what you love, knowing that the financial
part will take care of itself?

When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you
didn't do more than the ones you did. Carpe diem. Carpe diem.
Seize the day. Live life NOW, and live life to the fullest.

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3. Quotes

You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can
only decide how you're going to live. Now.
Joan Baez

Life is a succession of moments.
To live each one is to succeed.
Corita Kent

The aim of living is life itself.
Johann von Goethe

To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming,
is the only end of life.
Robert Louis Stevenson

May you live all the days of your life.
Jonathan Swift

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4. Recommended Resources

The LifeExcellence Motivational Screensaver

For those of you who haven't downloaded our screensaver yet, I
invite you to do so today! First, it's FREE, and second, it's COOL!
The screensaver contains a collection of over 100 awesome
motivational quotes and 30 scenic photos! You can download it here,
or from our website. Install it on your PC at home and work, and
forward it to your friends, family and business associates!

The Wheel of Excellence

It really is possible to have an excellent life! It's something we all
want for ourselves and others. This free tool is designed to help
you produce the results that lead to having an excellent life.

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5. Self-Care: Fighting Colds

The medical profession calls this time of year the "cold and flu
season." Here are some tips to reduce your risk of developing a
cold, and shorten its duration if you catch a cold:

1. Exercise. Moderate physical activity significantly reduces
the risk of colds.
2. Wash your hands frequently. Most colds are "caught" through
contact by hand.
3. Drink lots of fluids. Drink plenty of water, and juices that
contain vitamin C.
4. Eat fresh garlic, or take garlic supplements. Garlic kills germs
and strengthens your immune system.
5. Suck on zinc lozenges. Products such as Cold-Eeze have been
reported to shorten colds by 3-4 days.

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6. Final Thoughts: Always Create Your Own Dreams and Live
Life to the Fullest

Dreams can come true if you take the time to think about what
you want in life. Get to know yourself. Find out who you are.
Choose your goals carefully. Be honest with yourself.
Always believe in yourself. Find many interests and pursue them.
Find out what is important to you. Find out what you are good at.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Work hard to achieve successes.
When things are not going right, don't give up - just try harder.
Give yourself freedom to try out new things.
Laugh and have a good time. Open yourself up to love.
Take part in the beauty of nature. Be appreciative of all that you have.
Help those less fortunate than you. Work towards peace in the world.
Live life to the fullest.
Create your own dreams and follow them until they are a reality.

Susan Polis Schutz

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Thank you for reading the LifeExcellence Newsletter.
Live life to the fullest this week!
- Brian Bartes

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