There is a beautiful story if I haven’t already shared it about teenage boy with down syndrome who was running in a 5K race. There was also a marathon that was starting at the same time. Somehow he got confused and ended up running in the marathon.

His parents were concerned for his safety after never crossing the finish line for the 5K. Hours later he came across the finish line for the marathon and found his parents. When asked why he didn’t stop, his response was, “I knew there would eventually be a finish line, so I just kept running.”

Maybe we could be as brave and bold and not worry about how far we have to run and just keep going until we reach the end.

When we get to be middle-aged, we tend to pile up the birthday celebrations behind us like spent ink cartridges from our prior 3 office and 7 home printers.

The best gift I’m able to give to myself on my special day is my own reminder to remain in the present. As I recently celebrated my birthday, there are two things I did my best to embrace: Time and Place.

There’s nothing I can do about my current age. Secondly, I am where I am. It sounds quite elementary, but these are truths that remain so. If I want to change my place, then that is something I can change. My age I cannot.

So, what can we do? Move our feet and change our scenery if we’re not happy in this place.

But, let’s not deny where we are, because it’s the truth. However, if you want to change it, by all mean let’s do it!

While in the process remaining absolutely present in the moment.

What’s our value in our home? Our workplace? Our friendship circle? In the world?

No doubt, knowing our value in this world is certainly . . . of value. And although we may be too close to the pulse to get an accurate idea, through others we may be able to come to a more accurate estimate.

Why is this important to know? Because it may give us an indication of where we can be the most effective. Getting the biggest bang for your buck, so to speak, has always riddled me over the years. And I’m not talking about making money. I’m talking about leaving behind a legacy. Leaving this world better than when I was here. Creating a space for myself that others will miss when I pass on.

Not in being selfish, but in being the best version of myself I can be. By being of value.

It’s not a earth-shattering revelation: Sometimes we have cloudy skies.

We can look at that as depressing because we feel we’re unable to go for a walk or play in the park or we can accept it for what it is. Maybe instead, we put on our raincoat and boots and listen to the drops bouncing off our hood and splash in the puddles.

It can be viewed either way. As an opportunity to complain, make excuses and feel sorry for ourselves or welcome the moisture for all plants and foliage and be grateful for it’s arrival.

The choice is ours. Either way, we’re always going to encounter cloudy skies.

I heard a question the other day that went something like this: Would you take $1,000,000 if someone gave it to you right now? Your answer would most likely be, “Of course I would.” How about if they were to give you $10,000,000 today, but on one condition? You couldn’t wake up tomorrow. What would your answer be now? More than likely, we would respond, by choosing to wake up in the morning rather than the money.

So, by that logic, it’s more important that you wake up – have breath in your lungs than having a bunch of money. He then added, “Why don’t we wake up in the morning and jump out of bed due to our excitement for being alive?”

How do we go about finding the right perspective to go through this day? It can disappointing if we’re choosing a weak stance to take.

Rather, maybe we can find our proper leverage this morning in order to have pep in our step and zest for our day.

It’s as simple as finding our leverage.