I met a beautiful older woman today, she is a neighbor down the road from me, that unfortunately until today I have not known. I found a handwritten letter in my mailbox with her name and my address on it, so I asked around my neighborhood to whom it might belong to, instead of just writing “not at this address” and sending it back. I don’t know about you but, I love getting “real” mail, you know the ones that come in that snail mailbox, sometimes don’t come at all and are usually late? Seeing a handwritten note in my own mailbox is the highlight of my day! It makes me feel like someone is caring about me, someone is interested in me and wants to be part of my life. When I get “real” mail, I always send something back too! Because I want the person to feel the same way I do! Life is way to short to always be hooked up to electronic devices as our only source of conversation. For years once a week, I took the time to write one card or letter to someone in my life that I hadn’t seen or spoken to, somehow I fell out of this habit. I am once again inspired to write again, not just here on my blog but to those around me that I care about.
This wrong addressed handwritten letter affected my life in two ways, one, reminding me that I too need to send my love and encouragement to those around me. Two, that this lovely woman that had no idea I was coming greeted me with a huge smile, a firm handshake and most of all sincere appreciation of just bringing her the letter that should have gone to her anyway. She told me, “I am 94 and keep in contact the old school way” I smiled and told her my heart was old school but I was not 94! She thanked me again and I reminded her that it was truly no trouble at all for me to find her and get it to her.
As is finished my short drive home I realized I am but half her age, I hopefully have the same amount on this other side of my age. My question to myself was, “what will I do with this time that is in front of me?” If I have done all the things I have done in my life, how many more things can I accomplish and achieve in another 47 years? Wow! The possibilities are endless, but the road to excellence requires planning and due diligence, goal setting and perseverance. This task is nothing new to me, but I am inspired to look hard at my daily life and decide “is what I am doing today, going to achieve the goals I set yesterday?”
What will your day bring you?