Life Is Good

As 2008 dawns, it might be a good time to remember three simple words.
Life is good.
Ten letters. A trio of words that when adopted as a mantra can change the way one looks at life in a myriad of situations.
I adopted it in 2007. A sort of spin-off from the popular book, “The Secret.”
The adage helped me glide through many events that in the past might have derailed me.
It’s a philosophy I’d like to see the Baby Boomers adopt as a generation.
Our world and our culture have a lot of negative aspects to them. It’s easy to focus on the things that are going wrong. There are plenty of them, both on the societal stage and in our personal lives.
These problems shouldn’t be ignored. Solutions should be sought. But we should seek them with our mantra in mind.
If our 78-million person generation can personify this attitude, it could lead to a sweeping change of heart in our country.
Life is good.
We can use this philosophy in all aspects of life. Let’s start with the basics.
As the new year unfolds, let’s be thankful we live on a planet that is a perfect 90 million miles from its sun. Earth’s axis is tilted at a convenient 23 degrees, giving us four seasons and an average temperature worldwide of 57 livable degrees. Our sphere is 71 percent water and 29 percent land. A perfect mix to let animal and plant life flourish. Prehistoric people used to hold festivals in late December to celebrate the winter solstice. The fact the days would be getting longer. Warmth was on the way. We can do the same thing in a more modern way. Humans have developed into a remarkable species that uses its intelligence and adaptability to make life relatively easy for itself. Conveniences, medicine, electricity, transportation.
Yes, life is good.
We can be thankful for our health, if we are lucky enough to have it. We can take comfort in our family and friends. We can take pride in our work and be grateful we have a job, even if we are looking for a new one. It’s an attitude that allows one to keep other things in perspective. To try to overcome obstacles without letting them overwhelm us.
Life is good.
We can celebrate our fortune by setting a good example. By staying in good physical shape. By reading more. By being polite. By being thoughtful. By offering guidance to those younger than us.
We can start a groundswell in this country. A changing of our outlook. All with three simple words. Life is good.
The sultry actress Mae West once said, “You only have one life to live, but if you do it right, once should be enough.”