Reece Gardner: Live with Enthusiasm

The Class assignment was to make a commitment to go out and live with Enthusiasm in a specific area of life, and then come back the following week and tell what happened as a result of that experience. Tom Rogers stepped forward to tell how he was going to be enthusiastic about cleaning out his garage. This evoked some laughter from the group, but it was obvious that Tom was very sincere with his commitment. He said, "It has gotten to the point that I am hesitant to drive into my garage, day or night, without first checking to see if there are any obstacles in my way, which there usually are, so I am looking forward to cleaning that area out, and I am going to do it enthusiastically."

He then went on to say, "And while I am at it, I am also going to clean out the adjoining storage room, which is in total disarray. Having been in the military and traveled extensively, my family and I have accumulated a lot of things, and boxes upon boxes are stacked in that room, packed with items from long ago." Tom paused for a second, and then proclaimed, "I am going to find out what is in those boxes!" The week went by and the evening came when each person was to tell about their living with enthusiasm experiences. Tom's turn came, and he shared this experience. He said, "During this past week I have cleaned out my garage and my storage room, and I want you all to know that it has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.

Oh yes, I can now drive into my garage at any time, day or night, and not have to worry about anything being in the way, and I now enjoy opening the door to my storage room just to marvel at how neat and orderly it has become." He continued, "These outcomes, in and of themselves, are enough to make me happy about having taken this action, but the most exciting thing about this experience came from what I found in those boxes in the storage room. I found things I thought had long since been lost. I even found things I never knew I had. I found things in those boxes - letters, photos, awards, gifts, Etc - that I wouldn't take a million dollars for, and I didn't even know I had them!"

Folks, we don't need to search for things in this life to be enthusiastic about. They are all around us, such as being able to see and hear, about having a loving family, and being able to walk, talk, laugh, and LIVE. These things are priceless, and they are all GIFTS. All we need to do is recognize them and enjoy them!

Now to close on a humorous note: There's a guy sitting at a bar, just looking at his drink. He stays like that for half an hour. Suddenly a big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, takes his drink without permission, and drinks it all down. The poor man starts crying. The truck driver says, "Come on, man. I'll buy you another drink. I just can't stand seeing a man cry."

The man replies, "No, it's not that. This day is the worst of my life. First, I fall asleep and I'm late getting to the office. My boss, in an outrage, fires me. When I leave the building to my car, I find that it's been stolen. The police say they can do nothing. I get a cab to return home, and when I leave the cab I discover I left my wallet and credit card in the cab.

The cab driver just drives away. I go into my home and find a note from my wife saying she has left me. I leave my home and come to this bar, and while I was thinking about putting an end to my life, you show up and drink my poison!"

HAVE A WONDROUS DAY!!