What Makes a Good Day?
“Have a good day.” We hear that phrase all the time. Someone says it as we leave a store, hang up the phone, walk out of a meeting, or say goodbye to a friend. It is such a common phrase that sometimes we do not even think about it.
But on this Front-Row Friday, I want to pause and ask a simple question. What does a good day actually look like? We have all heard the old saying, “Any day above ground is a good day.” And yes, there is truth in that. Waking up, having another chance, taking another breath, and getting another opportunity to live, love, work, serve, and grow is absolutely something to be grateful for.
But I want to take it a step further. What makes a day a good day for you? That is where it gets powerful, because the answer is not the same for everyone. The beautiful thing is that you get to decide. You get to define what a good day looks like in your life. Maybe a good day starts with getting up and moving your body.
Maybe it looks like taking a walk outside, breathing fresh air, and spending a little time in nature. Maybe it means sitting quietly for a few minutes, praying, meditating, journaling, or simply getting your thoughts together before the demands of the day begin.
Maybe a good day is calling a friend you have been meaning to call. Maybe it is doing meaningful work. Maybe it is finally putting your ideas, your message, your art, your business, or your heart out into the world and letting people see what you have produced. Maybe a good day is not about everything going perfectly. Maybe it is about choosing how you show up, even when life is not perfect.
Since this is Mental Health Awareness Month, I have been thinking a lot about how important it is for us to take care of ourselves and take care of each other. We talk a lot about having good days, but sometimes we forget that good days are not always something we wait for. Sometimes they are something we create.
That does not mean we can control everything that happens to us. We cannot. Life will still bring delays, disappointments, hard conversations, difficult people, unexpected news, and days that do not go according to plan.
But we can control how we begin. We can control what we focus on. We can control whether we look for the blessings or only look for the burdens. We can control whether we sit in the balcony of our own life, watching the day happen to us, or whether we move into a front-row seat and participate fully.
You can wake up and say, “Today is a front-row kind of day.” You can decide, “Today is going to be a positive day.” You can remind yourself, “Today is a day filled with blessings.”
And when you do that consistently, something starts to shift. One good day leads to another. Then you begin to have back-to-back good days. Then, over time, you notice more positive energy in your life. Not because life suddenly became perfect, but because your perspective became more intentional.
That is the invitation this week. What do you need more of? What do you need less of? What helps you feel grounded, hopeful, connected, energized, and grateful? Then do one small thing today that supports that.
Go outside. Make the call. Move your body. Finish the project. Drink the water. Say the prayer. Write the note. Take the deep breath. Do the work. Celebrate the blessing. Choose the front-row.
As I write this, I just got off stage delivering a keynote on Front-Row Success, and I am about to get on a plane to spend time with friends. So, I already know today is going to be a good day.
And on this Front-Row Friday, that is my wish for you too.
Have a good day, however you define it.
Your Head Usher,
Marilyn
