“Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart.

My hard and fast calling in life is to be a “positive difference maker” in as many lives as possible—including my own. I’m learning to understand that if our passion doesn’t influence others, our impact will be short-lived. Some days I fail, other days I succeed. Regardless, every day we are gifted the rare opportunity to lead and live with empathy and courage. The distinction is conveyed in our ability to make others shine. Realize that pleasing people is not the same as loving, teaching, and leading people. As we stay amenable, curiosity becomes our capacity to be comfortable with what is unknown.

While we will never have all the answers on our self-discovery journey, our direction forward always begins with an intentional first step. So many of us, myself included, go through life looking towards tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year versus making friends and peace with the present moment. No matter how doubtful our days become, we have the vitality to turn our current setbacks into our biggest comebacks.

The best day of our life is the day on which we decide our life is our own. We all must define our boundaries. There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and lost by not trying. With this cherished gift of life, we should strive daily to give our best and be our best.

I’m learning, we are all learning, and each of us is united.

Never stop asking the question of why and being unique.

—Brian Nadon