“There are 86,400 seconds in a day.  It’s up to you to decide what to do with them.”  ~Jim Valvano

When I read this quote I began to think about what I do every day with my 86,400 seconds other than sleeping at night.  I make a list of items I wish to accomplish each day, and I am flexible to make changes when necessary.  So I have a game plan for each day, but then I went deeper into this thought.  What do I contribute daily in giving back to others?

With my conviction that we are all connected and we are a mirror image of one another, this became the primary question:  How do I spend those 86,400 seconds making a difference in the lives of others?  Now that is a question to ponder!

Since moving to France last November, I am learning a new language so communicating with words is often not an easy task.  I am getting better; however there are a lot of words that must be added to my vocabulary before a conversation will take place, in French that is.  We are blessed to have a couple of friends here that speak English.  They tell us that we are helping them with their English, as they help us with French.  To us, they have been a godsend.

I take walks just about every day and every time I pass someone, I always speak to them.  In France, most people tend to just walk by without saying anything.  When I thought about this question whether or not I make a difference in the lives of others, it occurred to me that when I say, “bonjour” as I pass by, they reply back, “bonjour,” many times with a smile on their face.

Then I remembered another time when I was planting flowers in my small flower box on the front porch.  Two ladies walked by, I didn’t even look up because I heard them talking and thought they were talking to each other as they were passing by.  Only to find when I looked up that they had stopped to talk with me!  I smiled and asked them my favorite question, “Tu parles anglais?”  Translation: Do you speak English?  They shook their heads no and then a miraculous thing happened.  They began to use their hands and face to share what they wanted to tell me, and I did understand a couple of words they said.  They wanted to let me know how beautiful the flowers are and how much they like looking at them as they walk by each day.

As I write this post, I have tears in my eyes because I have been reminded that the “little” things we do in life are truly what makes a difference.

With much love,

Alice