You know when you get a new car and all of a sudden you notice the same car you’ve just purchased all over the road? Well, last year I read and wrote a musing on Arianna Huffington’s book “Thrive” and since then I seem to hear this word and concept discussed a lot. I’m currently hearing the word THRIVE because it’s a strong descriptor in the cancer community—to manage our treatments and health protocol—i.e., to not just Live, but to Thrive!

I imagine we all have an understanding in the difference between Living and Thriving, but what I like most about the concept of Thriving is that it’s a very personal feeling of accomplishment. Thriving is not about validation from anyone but yourself. This is something I’m consciously working to embrace each and every day.

Most recently, when I think of Thriving I think of my 58-day Challenge. The only person I was accountable to was myself. I didn’t need someone waking me up in the morning or going to my workouts with me to know that I would stick to my commitment. I didn’t need someone reminding me to workout that day. I didn’t need approval from someone of what type of workout qualified for my challenge. And I didn’t need or want anyone applauding me at the end of the day for chalking up another day toward my commitment. It was ALL ME and ONLY ME! Yes, I enjoyed it when my friends joined me and I appreciated the encouragement I did receive on social media, but I didn’t NEED them to be successful in my personal commitment.

Another area that I feel I am Thriving in is daily self-improvement. One of Coach Wooden’s points in the 7-point Creed that he lived by was “Drink Deeply from Good Books.” Every night I choose to read something that will enrich my ability to have deeper relationships, be a better leader/coach, or simply a better version of myself. I’ve noticed that since I was diagnosed three years ago I don’t watch much television anymore. I know exactly the reason why… it was blatantly apparent to me when I got diagnosed that we all have an expiration date, we just don’t know when it is. There is so much that I want to learn I don’t want to waste one day because I don’t know—none of us know—if we’ll get another day.

It may sound morbid to some, but to me it’s exhilarating. If you’ve ever been on vacation somewhere with a lot of history and culture you’ve experienced that feeling of wonder. That’s how I feel EVERY DAY, here… at home… in Los Angeles… there is so much to learn and experience and I have so much more potential to grow… that’s why I plan on living until I’m 103 (yes, this is an age I’ve put thought into). I figure by then I will have lived a good life and have learned a lot that I will definitely have passed down to whomever will listen. BTW… If God wants me to live past 103, I’m good with that too 😉

OK, time to share… How do you THRIVE during your days?