LIVE LIFE LOUD!

It’s the greatest secret of all! In life, enthusiasm triumphs over everything else. W. Clement Stone once said, ‘no matter how carefully you plan your goals they will never be more than pipe dreams unless you pursue them with gusto.’ Emerson in pursuing the argument in similar vein, affirmed W. Clement Stone’s keen observation, saying, ‘every great movement in the annals of history is the triumph of enthusiasm’. Father John O’Brien, Research Professor of Theology at Notre Dame University observed, ‘’the first ingredient, which I believe is absolutely necessary, for a successful, efficient, and competent individual is enthusiasm’’.

Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States who lived to the ripe age of 96, was the quintessential optimist and never lost his zest for life till the very end. Reagan dotted on Nancy, his dear wife, and never forgot the wise words of W. Clement Stone who counseled, ‘enthusiasm is one of the most important factors necessary for success in life.’ As he was being wheeled to the operating theater following the assassination attempt on his life by John Hinckley Jr., just 69 days into his Presidency, Reagan turned to Nancy, his wife, and joked, ‘sorry honey, I forgot to duck’. Reagan was a great actor but this time it was for real: he had just escaped being the fifth assassinated president of the United States and was joking about it.

A wise man once said, ‘the worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but who we are. You are special – don’t ever forget it.’ Live life loud! Live life with enthusiasm! Don’t pursue success, but pursue happiness. Mother Theresa once said, ‘’Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.’’ Life is like music, it has melody, harmony, rhythm, tempo, and dynamics. Mama Cass Elliot, a singer, advised, ‘’Make your own kind of music. Sing your own special song. Make your own kind of music, even if nobody else sings along. Learn to appreciate life more, to view each day as a blessing it is, and to celebrate each day to the fullest.’’

Learn when to be loud enough to be heard and soft enough to hear others. An unknown author once said, ‘A good way to live is to care more than others think wise, risk more than others think safe, dream more than others think practical, expect more than others think possible.’’ Are you weighed down by life? As Napoleon Hill would say, wake up and live! Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, quoting Calvin Coolidge, in one of his most memorable interviews when asked how he became so successful quipped, ‘’Press on, nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.’’ And if I may add, nothing fires your persistence and determination as enthusiasm.

As we head for our home stretch, let’s borrow two of Optimists’ Club Promises. ‘Promise: to wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile’. ‘Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.’ Hilary Cooper enthused, ‘’Life is not measured by the number of breaths that we take, but the moments that take our breath away.’’ Ride on my friend, be happy. On your life’s journey, take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints!