This morning, a simple thought came to me:
Today I choose.
Not tomorrow.
Not when circumstances improve.
Not when other people change.
Today.
The older I get, the more I realise that life is made up of choices.
Some choices are large and obvious.
Others are small and almost invisible.
Yet it is often the small choices that shape our character.
We do not always get to choose what happens around us.
We do not get to choose how other people behave.
We do not get to choose the challenges that arrive unexpectedly at our doorstep.
But we do get to choose our response.
We get to choose who we become.
Today, I choose peace.
Not because there is no conflict.
Not because every problem has been solved.
But because peace begins within.
I choose love.
Not only for those who love me in return.
But also for those who challenge my patience and stretch my understanding.
I choose compassion.
To pause before judging.
To consider what another person may be carrying.
To remember that everyone is fighting battles I know nothing about.
I choose charity.
Not only the charity of giving.
But the charity of spirit.
The charity that begins at home.
The charity that offers kindness before criticism and understanding before condemnation.
I choose to listen.
In a world where everyone seems eager to speak, listening has become a rare gift.
I choose to hear.
Not merely the words being spoken, but the feelings, fears, hopes, and needs behind those words.
I choose family before friends.
Not because friends are unimportant.
But because family is one of life’s greatest responsibilities and blessings.
I choose humility.
The older I become, the less certain I am that I have all the answers.
Humility allows us to keep learning.
To remain teachable.
To admit when we are wrong.
To grow.
And finally, I choose to be more like Christ.
Not perfectly.
Not all at once.
But intentionally.
To be more patient.
More forgiving.
More compassionate.
More loving.
Every day presents us with countless opportunities to react.
To become frustrated.
To become offended.
To become discouraged.
Yet every day also presents us with opportunities to choose.
To choose peace over conflict.
Love over resentment.
Compassion over judgment.
Humility over pride.
Perhaps character is not built in a single defining moment.
Perhaps it is built one choice at a time.
Every conversation.
Every disappointment.
Every challenge.
Every ordinary day presents us with an opportunity to become a little more like the person we wish to be.
And so today, I choose.
Today’s Thought
We cannot always choose what happens to us.
But we can choose the person we become because of it.
If you’d like to share your thoughts, you’re welcome to contact me at books@eugenemarillier.com
I also publish reflective essays and ongoing writing at www.eugenemarillier.com
With love always,
Eugene Marillier 🌿🕊️
