“A good movie has memorable scenes, and so does a good life.” – Donald Miller
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned To Live a Better Story by Donald Miller has been such an enjoyable book to read! I’d highly recommend it, especially for those who are feeling discouraged about life or wanting something greater. I heard about it on the Tim Ferriss podcast sometime within the last year.
I had to put the book down when I read this last sentence because it reminded me so much of my husband, Don. He has lived this out (a good life….memorable scenes) ever since I met him in college. He made exec meetings, big ball soccer games, training runs, prayer times, and road trips sooooo memorable, usually by adding a little element of the unexpected or “extra”. He is never content with the status quo or mundane.
We’ve been married 26 years now, and as entrepreneurs, we have had several big ups and downs as a family. However, during our down times, our kids probably never knew it, because Don always made sure every day was memorable. Really. Every day. (yes, they are spoiled in this way!)
He always made sure we had so much FUN! When we didn’t have much cashflow, the kids still had so many “memorable scenes” that have culminated into a good life. A very good life.
When they were young, we would grab swimsuits, towels, a cooler, hot dogs and buns and head out to any body of water around Austin – Lake Travis, Emma Long Park, the Green Belt, Hamilton Pool, Reimer’s Ranch or Krause Springs and jump off cliffs, swim around, get dunked, and grill hot dogs on the shore.
We’d gather all the neighborhood kids and play touch football on the street in front of our house or “ball me” on the trail in our backyard. Whenever we were at playgrounds, he’d have ALL the kids playing ultimate tag until the sun went down, or at swimming pools playing jackpot. He didn’t just coach our kids’ soccer teams, he started Sunday Soccer to get all the parents connected. He made life deep and real.
Most people don’t know this, but when we traveled around the Western US, we were just ramping up business again. We’d throttle the length of stay or level of luxury based on cashflow. Some nights were tighter than others. But our kids never knew. What they remember are the AMAZING views of National Parks, racing up and down trails, drinking hot apple cider or eating ramen out of our Snowpeak mugs at Avalanche Lake in Glacier National Park, the river next to the visitor center at Zion National Park, or Rialto Beach at Olympic National Park. We would splurge to go snowboarding (and these were the days before we had season passes!!!), but we’d carry turkey sandwiches in our coat pockets, and have the best days ever, the boys making sure to squeeze out every ounce of fun, always trying to catch the last chair up.
We were never just observers. Don made us participants, and because of that, we have a treasure chest of memorable scenes that have become this great life.
“What I really remember are the few times when we made an extra effort to do something memorable.” – Donald Miller
It really is all about the “extra”.
What can you do – in any situation – to make that EXTRA EFFORT to do something memorable? As Donald Miller says, these individual scenes are what collectively make up a “good life.” Here are a couple ideas, but I’d love to hear yours, too!
- Pick up the tab when you go out to dinner with friends.
- Bring a beautiful bouquet of flowers to your business lunch colleague
- Make anything into a competition or a game (this was Don’s favorite)
- Give someone the titanium Snowpeak mugs they are drinking out of (again, Don!!!)
- Take the detour route
- Surprise someone with tickets to their favorite band/show
- Buy a couple cigars and get real with a friend
- Pack lawn chairs and blankets and watch the sunset together
- Bring popsicles for kids
- Hire a local musician for your next dinner party
- Teach friends to play pickle ball and give them new paddles
- Treat guests to a private dinner with a famous chef
The list is endless!!! I’d LOVE to hear some things you have done to make life memorable for your family or friends. It doesn’t have to cost a lot. It just requires a little EXTRA thought, care, intention, and effort.
Let’s build great lives that tell great stories and make great impact.
Sonya Dalrymple 