Life doesn't have to be different to be better

​Life is better these days. Which is a bit puzzling, really. Because life isn't much different these days.

In many ways this better life looks a lot like the miserable life of a few years ago.

And a few decades ago.

Yes, in many ways life isn't different, but what I pay attention to these days is drastically different.

I'm coming to know that as a secret of life. As a truth of life. Much of life we can't undo. Much of life we can't control. But every day - every second - I am in complete control of which pieces of life I pay attention to.

I've spent much of my life paying attention to what I'd lost. Sometimes I was aware of that. Other times it was something happening behind the scenes of my life.

Today when I feel myself going there - because I do still go there - I stop myself. Because when you are more aware of the direction something is going you have more power to yell stop.

No.

Stand in front of it and say don't you dare go there.

You can not only stop the direction, but you can reverse it.

Reverse it and pay attention to the two beautiful boys I still have.

Pay attention to the incredible jobs I get to do.

Pay attention to the ability I still have to get up and move, even if slower and more fragile.

Pay attention to the passions I still have, like writing.

Pay attention to the friends who keep pointing me in the direction of all I still have.

Maybe you don't have the capacity to make life different today, but you absolutely have the capacity to choose which parts of life you pay attention to.

I encourage you to pay attention to what you still have.

It may not make life different, but it can sure make it better.

Take it from me, there is nothing wrong with better.