As school starts back up for our children this week, it is Senior Year for our daughter, and we have 3 kids in the same high school this year. Our youngest is also at the end of his elementary run. Unbelievable!
It got me thinking about my fascination with education, how much I loved my school years, peers, teachers, and how thankful I am that it set me on the path to a lifelong love of learning.
In reading classic works, I felt this week should be a shorter post, dedicated to beautiful words to remember, and hope this sparks some new Promises for your life, as it has mine.
From Dr. Frederic Loomis’ “In a Chinese Garden”:
“Enjoy yourself – it is later than you think.”
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These words above, from a brass plate two feet long, surrounded by the flowers in a garden, written in Chinese characters, translate to what may be the phrase any hard working person may need to read this day. It helped me recommit to this thought for myself:
I Promise to be Present.
I need to enjoy myself much more in the moment, as the rush of life, accomplishment, stewardship, responsibility, weighs so heavily, I am thankful for these thoughts on perspective.
“Enjoy yourself – it is later than you think.”
One of the ways you may find yourself wanting more – to create that which has never seen the light of day, and living a dream to write that book, sing your song, take that vacation, conquer a mountain peak…has also led me to finally launching a YouTube Channel that I hope will help you do just that.
“Enjoy yourself – it is later than you think.”
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From William Lyon Phelps’ “Happiness”:
“The happiest person is the person who thinks the most interesting thoughts.”
“How essential it is, then, in youth to acquire some intellectual and artistic tastes, in order to furnish the mind, to be able to live inside a mind with attractive and interesting pictures on the wall.”
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As one of the most popular professors at Yale, Phelps was asked to pen his thoughts and guidance on happiness and inspiration for families in America.
This makes me Promise myself to continue to decorate my mind with the grandest images, the joyous sights, the most pleasant of inspiration and desires.
My Promise to My Family is to guide them in decorating their lives, visions, dreams, desires, and minds with the uplifting, inspirational, and happiest moments in life.
~ Jason Hewlett
Husband, Father, Writer, Mentor, Hiker
- Speaker Hall of Fame * Award-Winning Entertainer * Mentor
- World’s Only Keynote Speaker utilizing entertainment, musical impressions, and comedy to teach The Promise
- Author of “The Promise To The One”
6 Responses
Can’t believe how your children have grown. Beautiful family. Much to be grateful for. Blessings, Louise
It is astounding to us as well. Thank you for the kind words my friend.
Beautiful family Jason. “It’s later than you think” sure strikes a truth to me as I head to 73 yrs old this month and watch my 8 children and all my grandchildren all growing up so quickly. This earthly life sure starts looking more and more like “but a fleeting moment”. Working hard to enjoy every day to its fullest. Thanks for the reminder.
Wow Bobbye, thank you for sharing. Yes, I’m sure by the 70’s things really come into a new level of perspective. You are surely a great example to those you love.
Thank you for this beautiful reminder to live fully today. To be fully present.
My Daddy corn to live with us in November 2017 due to declining but still excellent health for his 83 years. I will never forget sitting on the couch after a long, successful, happy bustling day at work when he looked at me and he said that he wishes that I would slow down. That I would spend more time with him. I remember being frozen in shock. I was struggling with the inner turmoil that sometimes he was a little bit grumpy and leaving him in the care of his excellent caregiver all day so that I could go pursue my professional dreams was actually filling my bucket. Or so I thought.
The following early April, he died very very suddenly I’m my arms.
In my life, my biggest regret has been in not realizing how late it really is.
Oh my goodness Cheryl, this really puts it into perspective. Thank you for sharing and I’m so sorry for your loss – but certainly he left you a great gift and you are so present, with everyone, and live The Promise at a high level my friend.