“What we choose to emphasize is a choice we can make each day.”

This quote is from a distant cousin in a Christmas letter I received this year. Must say, it’s a first to take a quote from a Christmas letter, but when I read this, it stopped me cold. I found a pen, circled the sentence, and put it aside. I decided to put it on a card and place it on my computer, so I’ll see it every day.

No matter what our lot in life, we have some say, some choice on what we emphasize each day. Those in prison, those confined to bed or wheelchair certainly have less choice, but they still have some. Whether you are the boss or employee or a freelancer, you have some choice in your job or vocation.

So, let’s look at it again, “What we choose to emphasize is a choice we can make each day.”

If we have a day off, do we catch up on chores, go for a drive or ride (if biking or cycling), take in an event, watch anything that happens to be on TV, or do planned TV binge watching. We have choices.

Here’s a possible morning of choices: Whether to sleep in or get up early. Do I have time for breakfast or just coffee and what to fix if I do? Can I fit in a walk or a run? Can I do some work in the yard between rain showers? Do I turn on the radio, a podcast, or the TV? And so it goes through the day.

Some of us are very self-disciplined and are good at delayed gratification. That’s me. I’m always buying something I will enjoy and then keep myself so busy with stuff I feel I have to do that I don’t take the time to enjoy it.

And some of us feel guilty, if we don’t stick to our schedule and get things done each day. That’s me, too! I love making lists and crossing off that which is done. I just need to include the fun stuff.

And some people don’t have much motivation. They need a giant push to get anything done. These are folks that probably should not live alone, but have someone to help share the load and provide motivation.

Keeping a balance of doing that which must be done, doing some of the doesn’t-have-to-be-done-but- should-be-done stuff, and including some of the fun activities too, sounds like a good daily goal for all of us.

We also have choice in our attitude. Some folks are positive, some negative, and some feel they are the victim with everyone out to get them. Nobody wants to be around an always cheerful Pollyanna or a constant complainer or a whiner who feels nothing is his/her fault. It’s all about balance in attitude also.

One more time, “What we choose to emphasize is a choice we can make each day.”

There are endless situations where choice comes into play daily. So, when you or I say, “I believe in choice!,” it gives a whole new meaning to the word.