“Let us seek to reign nobly on the throne of our highest self for just a single day, filling every moment of every hour with our finest, unselfish best. Then there would come to us such a vision of the golden glory of the sunlit heights, such a glad, glowing tonic of the higher levels of life, that we could never dwell again in the darkened valley of ordinary living without feeling shut in, stifled, and hungry for the freer air and the broader outlook.” ~ William George Jordan
Ordinary living is, well, dreadfully ordinary. Rising above the ordinary into the realm of excellence is true living. Make today an unusual day. Fill it to overflowing with nothing but your finest expression, free of the tethers of selfishness. Let your every expression lift the burden of others, rather than adding to the weight that rests upon their shoulders.
Instead of imagining how you would feel at the end of such a day, give it a try and know for sure! See for yourself how much and how many can be lifted up as a result of just one person living to his highest and finest for 24 hours.
I double dog dare you.
Gregory Hake 
Challenge accepted and thanks for issuing it!
Perhaps a good starting point would be to look at habits. Over the years i have noted that we often have the habit of living up to the lowest of standards and ideals instead of the highest of what we are capable of. I guess that it seems easier on the front side; however, as we grow older we often times wish that we had of not taken the ‘easy’ road quite so often. Habits in the way that we think about things or how about the habits of who we allow to influence us, especially in the major decisions affecting our lives.
Accepting this challenge means expecting the highest and finest from myself at each and every moment of the day and of being conscious of how, if i am not alert, my habits will keep me from reaching those levels.
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You’re never too old to develop new habits!
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“Step 1” accepted!
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I’m in – can’t resist a double-dog dare!!
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What a wonderful possibility for all of us! Taking the steps to live to our highest potential one day at a time is so practical and a callenge easy to accept. As one day leads to the next, we may find it becomes uncomfortable and stifling to live on any level beneath out highest expression. One person affects thousands, the ripple effect of this challenge could make many peoples day today! Today will be filled withe physical and time challenges for me, what a great day to consciously take this on. Yehaaaw!
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Good point…staying conscious and not turning on the autopilot during busy times!
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Yeah, you almost have to lose sense of yourself to find yourself in a way. I’ve found energy available to do things at times where I did not think at first there was much to work with. The worst is when you don’t feel like doing something, but if it’s the right thing to do, it’s simply gotta be done. If it’s a matter of helping someone and you are in position to help, then it is to your great disadvantage not to help, because that stifling feeling talked about above sets in and life becomes rather drum and well – ordinary. Not to mention even the other person’s problem still remains.
To help lift a burden, ease a woe – this is the gate of the extraordinary. Extraordinary living is fantasized about quite a bit, mainly with self-gratifying riches and luxuries at the center of the fantasy. I don’t buy into that. What I’ve been reading here sounds much more reasonable as a way that brings greater meaning to our lives. All that has had to happen to bring about life in a human being seems ridiculous and wasteful if it is going to end in selfishness….anyway, dare accepted!
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Could the prison door really have been unlocked the whole time? Good day to walk free, then! “One day at a time” can either be a statement of endurance or exuberance.
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Dare accepted.
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This was in our local paper sent in by reader. The person said they were stopped at the busiest intersection in town during rush hour and noticed an older gent with a cane, obviously with some mobility issues, trying to cross. The car behind him pulled over and a young gen
man jumped out and went to the older gent whispered something to him, then pressed the walk button on the light, took his arm and assisted him across the busy street. The writer said it brought tears to his eyes. He said the impact of this unselfish yet simple act of kindness was incredibly moving. When I read it I wondered was the writer of such a gentle heart that this scene was so moving? Was it the rarity of such spontaneous unselfishness that made it news worthy? I have to say I felt appreciation for the young man and a gladness that he was here, when I read it. Now I have to ask, could it have been a taste of the ” glowing tonic of the higher levels of life”? What would happen to our lives if all the moments were lived by our higher self? I can imagine the joy we could share. Thanks for this wonderful challenge.
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If you do this today, really do it, you will never be the same. It will make you realize that what you thought were your limits were in fact just te edges of your vision. I will do this today too, and we’ll see what is to be seen at the peak of my experience.
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Aw you had to go an “double dog dare” me. Just makin’ it so I can’t so no! I’ll take the dare, I’ll let you know how it goes.
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Haven’t had a “double dog dare” in quite some time – I accept!
(these have been exceptional posts!)
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LOL… Will do!
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