The happiest people in life are not focused on themselves. They know that the real purpose and meaning of life are beyond themselves.

I know one of our friends shares that he starts his day asking himself, how can he make his wife’s day the best it can be?

Just think about being curious about making another’s day better. Feel how that feels. Feel how it will feel knowing you are giving because you want to, not have to, not should.

Think of how our world would change if each person thought about how they could make someone else’s day better.

That is why I love nonprofits. People choose places of interest that matter and work for them. People volunteer for a cause and purpose they care about. Their hearts are open and filled. Even if things aren’t like they wish but they serve because they have hope and concern for something better.

That is why I love that I chose education as my career and vocation. Each day was a blessing to me. I could be lifted by knowing my, intention was to make another’s day better. Planning and focusing on how I could help children and adults learn, be curious and understand more.

When you think about others, there is a great sense of connection, of purpose. Life feels more valued, you feel more fulfilled and satisfied.

One of the ways to ensure you are living bigger than yourself, is as you are saying your evening gratitudes and prayers, is to ask yourself, “How did I make someone else’s day better?”

My word for 2024 is generosity. I have a little piece of paper that reminds me to reflect on how I was generous today. This has helped me expand my understanding of generosity. At first, I was thinking about money, giving more money to others in need. But as the year has gone on, I’ve seen generosity is a much broader meaning like making someone else’s day better.

How can you open yourself up to thinking more about making other’s day better than what you need?

I know some of you might be triggered by thinking how can you serve another when you might be barely getting by? But, what I know for sure, is when my mind thinks like that, it’s a reminder to me to get bigger than myself. See ways I can step out of myself. Get bigger. Know there is something more for me and my life.

I know you can only give what you have. If you have a lack and poverty thinking, it’s hard to think about giving. Maybe your growth and making another’s day better is by finding your abundance, your prosperity. Like if you have your health, whew, how abundant you are. If you have a family or friends, you are blessed. If you have a roof over your head, be grateful. Be an example of being blessed for others.

Decide today is a new beginning for you to be more of a giver.

Decide you are going to give more than you take. Does that begin with smiling, and saying Thank You?

Let the miracles of life happen for you as you open to making someone else’s day better.