Recently, our two year-old son has started copying my wife and I - then saying, "Just like you!"

• He will repeat things we say and when we look at him and smile, he grins back and says "Just like you!"
• Sometimes this is a good thing, such as when he uses the potty, "Just like you!"
• Other times, it is not such a good thing. The other day he was making his way down the stairs without holding on to the railing. When I told him to use the railing he said: "No Dad. Do it just like you!"

My wife and I have become acutely aware of our need to be extra vigilant with everything we say and do.

Having a small child look up at you with a huge smile and say, "Just like you!" melts your heart! It is the most pure and innocent display of love and admiration. At the same time, it really makes you take stock of the example that you are setting!

(If you can't identify with this because you don't have kids - think of the bumper sticker that says: "Lord, help me to be who my dog thinks I am".)

I want each of you to imagine that you are being followed around by a loving little person who will copy your every word and action. Now ask yourself two important questions:
1. "Would I be comfortable seeing myself mirrored in this child?"
2. "Would I be happy knowing that this child will have a life like mine, because they are making choices like I've made?"

If you hesitate on the answers, let me ask you this: if you wouldn't want to see your child doing, saying or thinking something, why would YOU do it, say it or think it?

I believe that having this kind of acute mindful awareness and personal responsibility for your daily thoughts, words and actions is a key ingredient to living a life that holds deep meaning and very few regrets.

In the end, that's all I want - a life full of deep meaning with no regrets - JUST LIKE YOU!

ENJOY NOW!

What it, what if suddenly, in a flash of fire and light, you got it! And among other things, you suddenly understood, without a doubt, the creative power of your word. Do you think you'd ever again utter, "it's hard", "it's not working", "something's wrong with me", or "I don't know"?

Nope, you wouldn't, not ever again.

Copyright (c) 2003-2004, all rights reserved.
National Library of Canada ISSN 1708-0606

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Contact him at: http://www.mathieu.com or email patrick@mathieu.com.