Living a fulfilling, normal life easy as ‘ABC, Ds’

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Kelley Moore
  • 39th Medical Operations Squadron commander
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  As I embark on yet another assignment, I find myself reflecting on the truly important things in life that keep me focused on the "Big Picture." Here are my simple "ABC and Ds" of living a fulfilling and normal life. 

"A" is for Attitude. Only I can make myself happy or miserable. I can choose to wake with a thankful heart or I can be a grump! I can choose to complain about meetings and deadlines, or I can embrace the day and be happy. I can remind myself that I am lucky to have a career and possess the ability to work. Attitude is everything, and personally I choose to be happy today. What about you? 

I actually have two "B"s to live up to. The first is "Be the Best at whatever you do." If you are a window washer, be the best window washer you can be. Go to bed each night knowing you did the best you could during your day. We all might fail and come up short at times, but we can all learn from our mistakes. 

My second "B" is "Be nice." On occasion, I have to remind myself to exhibit the common courtesies I sometimes tend to forget in this hurried world. It is easy to take someone for granted and forget that our fellow Airmen and family members are living breathing, people with their own feelings and doubts. 

We may think we're too caught up in deadlines to be nice, but this is where common courtesy comes into play. Remember, it only takes a second to smile, acknowledge someone, and say "thank you." 

This is especially true in how we treat the people we care for the most: our family. 

We are frequently kind to our peers and bosses, but once we get home we might not to show the same consideration to our family. This might not be intentional but it does happen. We may be tired and want to relax after a long day, but compassion for others should never stop. Our family and friends deserve the same respect we show for coworkers. 

A good rule to follow is "Never be too busy for loved ones." Otherwise, time slips by, weeks become years, and any time you may have once had to spend together is lost. 

"C" is for Character, which is what we say and do when no one is looking and I believe character goes hand-in-hand with integrity. 

Finally, "D" is for Dream. We should dream big while not forgetting to appreciate today. Everyone should dream as it is what makes us strive to be better, but we also should plan and have a goal. Otherwise, it is too easy to drift. When we have goals. we have a better chance of getting where we want to be in life. I also want to appreciate today, the "here and now," and leave the past in the past. Personally speaking, I don't want to look back on my life and say "I wish I would have done that" or, "I really missed my opportunity on that one."

Life is too precious to let a single day be wasted. So I try to abide by these simple rules, my ABC and Ds of a good life.