Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 85 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It Is the Life in Your Years That Count

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 85 of our Trek. Yesterday we finished our Trek through 10 waypoints, which contained practical wisdom on when it is best not to speak or to at least keep our speaking to a minimum. Saying 10 wise words is so much more effective than saying 100 words without substance. For the next few days, we will explore 7 principles in order to put more life in our years.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I am creating the journal for today’s podcast on our trip back home to The Big House. This morning we worshipped at Center Point Baptist Church in Lancaster, Ohio, where one of my nephews Eli Chamberlain was ordained into the ministry today. Afterwards we had a meal and fellowship with Eli and his wife Alyssa, her parents, my brother Martin and his wife Wanda (Eli’s parents), and five of their seven children and their families. It was a great blessing to be with family once again and to celebrate life.

After that time of celebration, Paula and I kicked off our anniversary week of activities. Since Hocking Hills State Park was nearby, we went on a nice trek this afternoon and hiked from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls and back. A total hike of about six miles, some parts of it were very challenging. It is the most beautiful state park in Ohio with thick woods, steep rolling hills, two small waterfalls, and a stream flowing through the gorge. The day was beautiful, and we had a great time enjoying God’s creation, talking, and spending time together outdoors.

As I mature and grow wiser, I am realizing how important these times together outside of our daily routine are. My encouragement to younger couples is don’t be so wrapped up in living life that you put off or miss these special moments. You don’t have to spend much, if any money, to create great adventures together. It is not about spending money to go to an event; it is about spending time together loving life.

As we head out on our Wisdom-Trek for today, the previous statements tie into the seven trails that we will explore over the next few days. We will explore how to live each day to the fullest because in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

Tweet This

Jesus desires us to live a life that is lived with abundance, a life lived fully. This is not in reference to material abundances but internal abundance through Him. He does not want us to be robbed of the joy that is found in Him. In John 10:10 Jesus proclaimed, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Today we will explore the first two trails.

1. Your attitude is a choice. You are in control. Create a positive attitude.

You might say,”Yes, I hear you Guthrie, but how can you choose a positive attitude each moment of each day?” As with anything worthwhile, it will not be easy. It takes consistent persistence to create this habit. Here are three tips that may help.

· Wake Up and Pause

Each day when you open your eyes you have a choice. Choosing the path of a positive mindset empowers you to move through the day with a sense of joy, even on the bleakest of days. Love yourself and be thankful. Find one thing that is positive about waking up. It could be the mere fact that you did. Each day choose to be positive about the day ahead. You are exchanging a day of your life for what you fill those 24 hours with, so make it positive. Read something to start your day that inspires you, like a daily devotional. Where your attention goes energy flows. Fill the beginning of your day with conscious choices that nourish your mind, body, and spirit in a positive way.

· Smile

Pick something that makes you smile. It could be the sound of the birds singing, or a babbling brook. It could be a smell that impacts your mind, whether it is real right in front of you or just a memory at the back of your mind. Close your eyes and think about a happy time full of pleasant scents – maybe a kitchen full of the sweet aromas of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon or a cool fall day or field of wild flowers. A smile might even happen through touch. Perhaps a soft blanket or a furry friend from the animal kingdom brings a smile of comfort and belonging. No matter what it is that makes you smile – an image, a situation, a place or a person – smile when you think of it and then just keep smiling.

· Practice Conscious Breathing and Gratitude Reminders

Create a list of everything in your life that you are thankful for. It does not have to be long, but change it and add to it when you think of new items.  This should be done ahead of time and kept near your bed, so it is the first thing you look at each morning. After you wake up and pause, think of something to smile about and then take three deep breaths, inhale as deep as you can, hold it a moment, and exhale. Make your attitude choice for the day, choose to be positive, and as I mentioned in the last point, force a smile on your face even if you don’t feel like it. Then read or pray through your gratitude list each morning before doing any other activities. Commit to yourself to carry that positive mindset with you all day long. Any time during your day when you feel your positive mindset is waning, repeat this step.

2. Embrace the moment for you may never pass this way again.

· Live Today Fully and Be in the Present

Being present in the moment is something I continually work at on a daily basis. With so many competing priorities, the moments that matter can get lost in the noise. Learn how to slow down and embrace the “now.” As I mentioned in the beginning of this podcast today, allow yourself time to honor the moments you are spending with family and friends. Practice being in the present by taking a walk or hike and be consciously aware of what you see, hear, smell, touch or taste. If walking is not an option, use your imagination, and walk a path to the top of a mountain in your mind. 

· Make a Memory

Proactively engage in making a memory. Time may not be on our side, so surprise someone with a call or send them a letter telling them how important they have been to you in your life or how proud you are of them. Be sure to take a picture in the midst of all the chaos, to capture those moments that document the love and the life that surround you. Be sure to tell stories to those who will carry on the family traditions. Story-telling is a strong tie between generations and will live in the memories of our loved ones forever.

· Do Something You Have Put “On Hold”

We all have those things we will do “someday.” Make someday today! It doesn’t have to cost a fortune or be extravagant. It can be simple but rewarding. Read that book you have wanted to read or sign up for a class and learn a new skill or hobby. Make the choice to travel, if only outside to a local park. Taking the first step is the hardest thing to do. Be courageous to know that you can choose to do something for yourself, and do it now before the time is gone.

We all have those things we will do “someday.” Make someday today!

Tweet This

Paul reminds of this in his letter to the church in Ephesus Chapter 5 verse 16, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”

Ponder these first two trails today and join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. Tomorrow we will continue to explore starting with trail #3 to live each day to the fullest because in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

Well, that will finish our podcast for today. If you missed any of our previous podcasts, please check out Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, YouTube, or Wisdom-Trek.com.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage you to take the time to invest yourself.

1. Invest in improving Wisdom-Trek by leaving your name, email address, and a comment on our website, so we can provide you with wisdom and insights that best fit your needs.
2. Invest in yourself by listening to our 7 minutes of wisdom each day.
3. Invest in the lives of others by encouraging your family and friends to journey with us on our Wisdom-Trek.

Thank you!

The journal from this podcast can be found at Wisdom-Trek.com, where we also have pictures, tweetable quotes, wisdom nuggets, and free resources.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

 As we take this Trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy the Journey, and Create a Great Day! See you tomorrow!