Most everyone has heard the statement above. I have no idea where it originated, or by whom, but it is one of the most powerful statement ever made. With all that is going on in the world from hate and war to economic struggles, to love and peace; to be able to look at our life, as it is our first day is a true gift. The challenge is for us to look at life in this manner. We all have struggles in life, and we have great rewards. Some more or less than others and it is common to ask God and the universe," why me?" Perspective is powerful, yet we often refrain from viewing life from a global perspective. We usually cannot see past our own immediate situation to understand that, though life can bring the most immense challenges possible, and the most wonderful rewards, our human characteristic moves forward with our focus on our minds perspective in that single moment.

    What ever happened to the big picture? People are at war throughout the world. There is hate and absence of caring. Fear is driving the decisions of world leaders, in absence of respect for all people. We become engrossed in the negativity of the happenings across our country and the world. This focus keeps us entrenched in the fear that continues to hinder the human race from evolving into a loving and caring being that otherwise would be striving to improve our world. Fear keeps us from capitalizing on each first day of the rest of our life. Capitalizing of this first day is achieved by recognizing the important little things we encounter, understanding their true lesson, and eradicating egoism.

    I was in a local grocery store last week and as I negotiated the aisles I came across a seven year-old girl. My first thoughts were of my own daughter at that age. I then began to tear up thinking of how I miss her. I then paused to observe the actions of this joyful girl. She was holding a single cup cake, glistening beneath a plastic dome. She rocked it back and forth and as the cup cake slid from one corner of the tray to the other, her eyes proclaimed anticipation of when she would open the container to enjoy her treat. It was then that I realized the true importance of the moment. A moment I will never forget, for at that moment there was no hate, there was no war or injustice; there was only a happy little girl radiating love. There was not a single reflection of fear within that moment.

    We all enter into this world with complete purity, filled with the love of God. If we could only remember this fact - this mission, as we age, our world could maintain the focus on love rather than fear, as this is the focus the human race must learn to reclaim. If we want to live our lives from a position of love and truly make every day "The first day of the rest of your life" then we simply need to observe a happy child. Somehow, we loose this vital direction and innocence, as we become adults. The outcome of our future is predicated on our realization of the fact that we can learn more from children than we could ever teach them. Upon the realization of a child's knowledge, we are to move forward with our mission in life, at all costs, to ensure the happiness, love, and encouragement of all children so they may maintain this God given purity.