Remember what it was like to get up on Christmas morning and be full of excitement? It took everything you had to get to sleep the night before, and it seemed like 6am would never come!

I don’t remember those days as well as I would like.

Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up in the morning and actually look forward to the day with wonder and amazement, with barely controllable anticipation of what’s in store for you before you go to bed tonight?

There are people who live like that, you know.

Many times, it’s not the people we’d think. It’s not necessarily the people who are rich and famous–in fact, most times, it isn’t them at all. It’s not the people who value comfort and security over adventure and uncertainty.

Do you know who lives like that?

It’s people who live outside themselves. Their focus is on what good they can do in the day, the people they can help, the things they can build. They’re not concernced for themselves, because they know ‘themselves’ are taken care of. They’re not focused on what to eat for breakfast, or whether their car hasn’t been washed in 3 whole days. They’re guys like Sam Walton, who drove an old truck until the day he died. They’re women like the 80-year-old lady down the street, who spends all her time going around to ‘older folks’ (as she puts it) to keep them company and bring treats.

They’re the people who spread happiness when you see them. They always have a smile for everyone, a heartfelt laugh, a thank-you for something little, appreciation for what they have–appreciation for life.

Are you one of those people? Am I?