I was at the pediatrician’s office with my twin boys (age 13) the other day and a most remarkable thing occurred. We observed a very obnoxious teenage boy verbally abusing his little brother while the mother just sat there doing and saying nothing. The teenager spoke so loudly that you could not avoid his conversation. It was like verbal poison for everyone in the office.

I decided to hold my tongue, although I was tempted to say a few words. We walked out of that office and I said to my boys:

“Thank you for not being like that. Today we are going to celebrate what we are NOT.”

I took them to Cold Stone Creamery to get an ice cream, complete with chocolate dipped waffle cone!  Indeed, I was feeling grateful.

As I was driving home I thought about how profound the statement was: Celebrate what you are not.

We spend some much of our time and energy criticizing ourselves, condemning our circumstances and generally thinking negative thoughts. Sometimes we need a wake-up call to realize our true blessings. After all, most of us are not living and suffering in Haiti, one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, recently devastated in a massive earthquake.  For that alone, we should be grateful.

Here are a few things for you to consider:

• Accept who you are;
• Celebrate what you are not;
• Decide what you want to change;
• Get motivated and take action to make that happen.

Self-improvement is a life’s work and I believe it can only be accomplished when you accept and love yourself just as you are right now. You are building upon something already good. Don’t strive to be perfect, rather embrace your magnificence and that of other people. This is the platform from which you will make yourself and this world better.

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