Live life on purpose

The secret of happiness in one simple phrase: Live life on purpose.  Life is a combination of the events that happen to us, and the choices we make in reaction to those events.  Every day we make choices that affect what direction our lives take.  Small choices; big choices; choices that seem small at the time but end up being big; choices that are small each time you make them, but add up to something big.

What this means is that in order to get the life you want, you have to do it on purpose.  You have to have some vision of what you want, and make choices every day to help you towards seeing that vision become reality.  But here's the catch: the right choices in life are nearly always the hard choices.  Nothing good in life comes easy.

What choices have you made today?  What will be the result of those choices?  Do you have the body you want?  What did you do today to work towards it?  Do you have the relationship you want?  If not, what are you doing about it?

Your life belongs to you.  You get to choose your own path.  Accept that responsibility and you can achieve anything if you're willing to make the hard choices, and put in the work that is required.

I worked a long day today, and came home tired.  But since I have chosen to complete a triathlon, I know that I have to put in the work, so I rode my bike for an hour, then went for a run.  I made a choice.

A few years ago, my waistline was slowly creeping.  I had to buy new pants.  When those became tight, I refused to buy bigger pants.  I chose to stay thin, so I joined the gym next door to my work.  I was working at least 10 hours a day, and I didn't feel like working out after work, but I also didn't feel like gaining weight, so I made a choice.

When Mariah was born, I took very seriously the responsibility to shape her into an adult.  The choices I have made every day have been the hard choices, but they have all been made with the end in mind.  Mariah and Emily are now 13 and 11, and I could not be more proud of the people they are becoming.  I have made numerous choices.

In 1999, I wasn't happy with the number of hours I was working, and with how little time this left for me to spend with my baby daughter.  I chose to quit my job and start my own business.  I sold everything I owned, worked 14 hour days, and built a business that now gives me time with my girls.  I made a choice.

In 2007, my marriage was draining the life out of me.  I realized that not only was I unhappy, but that my unhappiness, and the example of a bad marriage, was going to have long-term negative affects on my girls.  So I chose to end my marriage.  I lost my house and went bankrupt.  But I chose happiness and setting a positive example for my girls over any material things.  I am happy now.  I made a choice.

I love my life, but I have worked very hard to make it this way.  And I continue to work at it every day.  I make choices every day with the end in mind.  I can't control what anyone else does.  I can only make my own choices.  And you can make yours.  What will you choose?