My dad’s mom died when I was in the 9th grade from colon cancer.  I still miss her, as she was a wonderful woman.  Sadly, I didn’t get to see her as often as I would like because she lived in another state, but she was always nice to us and always accepting.

Yesterday, when I went into my parents’ kitchen, there was this small frame sitting on the kitchen table.  I was immediately taken back to my days as an overweight, frumpy, pre-teen.  Okay, much hasn’t changed over the years, but it did bring back memories.

You see, my grandma had this frame hanging in her bathroom for as long as I can remember.  I remember reading it every time I went into her bathroom and how I hoped that I could live my life by its words.  I tried to memorize it and succeeded for the most part.  Of course, over the years, I lost sight of the words, if not the meaning.

This is the beginning of a new day.  I have been given this day to use as I will.  I can waste it or use it for good.  What I do today is important, because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it.  When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; leaving in its place whatever I may have traded for it.  I pledge to myself that it shall be gain, not loss, good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for this day.

While I may not have always succeeded, and in fact have failed miserably on occasion, I still strive to live my life by this code.