I haven’t posted anything in a while, and I’m not sure why. Sometimes I just don’t have anything to write about. However, that changed yesterday when I was on our Peloton bike and the instructor said something that really resonated with me. She mentioned that every new morning is like a clean slate, allowing us to forget what happened the day before and start afresh. This concept of a clean slate really struck a chord with me. It reminds me of springtime or newborn babies, when everything feels fresh and new. Nature is the true expert when it comes to a clean slate. During spring, especially in areas with four seasons, plants and trees get a clean slate. All the imperfections that were visible last year have vanished with new growth.

The timeline of a clean slate in someone’s life doesn’t have to be on a daily basis. It can be over a longer-term. You could be starting a new job, getting married, or moving to a different city to start over again. I like the idea of starting over every day. The big things in my life for now are pretty stable. I’m still healthy, my wife still loves me, I have amazing my kids and grandkids, and most of the time I still like my job. However, there are still plenty of demons that roll around in my head from time to time. I know pretty much everybody has things going through their brain that give them trepidation and worry. It’s how we learn to deal with them that makes one a present and productive person.

It would be idealistic to believe that someone can follow a predictable routine and experience the same emotions every single day. As humans, our emotions naturally fluctuate, ranging from periods of anxiety or frustration to moments of euphoria, all of which impact our daily lives. Trying to level out these highs and lows has been a lifelong pursuit for me, albeit with mediocre success. From an outsider’s perspective, I might appear to be in complete control, but internally, my mind can race at a million miles a minute. The idea of waking up to a clean slate each morning is so liberating to me.

One of the greatest ways to make use of a new day is to get out of bed and take a moment to appreciate all the things that I should be grateful for, even if I tend to take many of them for granted. The act of being grateful is often overlooked and underappreciated. How often do you pause and reflect on all the things you are grateful for? If you are like me probably not enough.

I have previously mentioned that one of the benefits of getting older is that young people often seek my advice on various issues they are currently facing. Selfishly, it gives me a moment to reflect and assess if I am actually living by the advice I give. Hopefully, it’s not just empty words, and I can truly listen to my own guidance and become a better partner to my wife and to the people I encounter in life. Sometimes, I succeed in doing so, and other times, not so much. The concept of a clean slate resonates with me. It brings a sense of purity and upliftment. Regardless of how terrible a day has been or how poorly I may have treated someone I care about, the next day offers a fresh start, a new beginning on a clean slate. I understand it may sound simplistic, but it can become anyone’s reality if they truly believe in it. Because when your mind believes it’s true, you’ve already won half the battle. Your own mind will position you to have a clean slate and will guide you to become a better person. Give it a try!