My Choices

"Every choice moves us closer to or farther away from something. Where are your choices taking your life? What do your behaviors demonstrate that you are saying yes or no to in life?" ---Eric Allenbaugh

Our life is a mirror of our choices. We literally define ourselves by our daily choices. I find it amazing that we have the ability to determine our tomorrow. I realize that our tomorrow is not decided by a choice we make today, but metaphorically speaking, our tomorrow is decided by the choices we make today. One bad food day does not make you fat tomorrow. However, many bad food days does make you fat in the future. The power of our choices crosses over to all areas of our life.

I remember when I purchased my first car. A young eighteen years and feeling invincible, I purchased a small two-seater sports car. Driving the car was great fun and I had many great times in that car with friends and dates. Four years later that car would prove to me that choices make a difference in our lives later. That choice in vehicles did not come without a price to pay. Because it was so fun to drive and it was fun to drive fast, I had many citations. I remember having so many citations that I was informed if I received one more citation, my license would be revoked. Listen I did not, young dumb and invincible I was. One evening while driving back to Southern Utah to get back for early Monday classes at Dixie State College, I flew past Fillmore Utah doing 105 according to the Highway Patrol Officer. Remember the speed limit in those days was 55, like Sammy Hagar, I can’t drive 55! The officer sat in his car for an eternity and then he slowly approached my vehicle with my citation. However, when he reached my window he informed me he had to impound the vehicle and hold me over-night until I could meet with the Judge on Monday morning. I watched my sporty car be towed away and I received a first class ride in a Utah Highway Patrol car to the Fillmore justice center. I asked the officer where I was staying the night. He smiled and said Fillmore jail. I was not booked or finger printed, but was led to my very own jail cell. He said you can sleep there and as long as you behave and stay put, I will not lock you in. I can tell you I listened this time and I stayed put.

The morning came and I was escorted to Fillmore Court where I would meet the judge. The Judge was a nice guy, I guess, however I was scared to death. He looked over the paper work and then looked at me. He looked at the paper work before him again and then he looked at me once again. Then, he looked at me and said Todd I am confused. You have no criminal record, look like a clean-cut law abiding citizen. What part of no more citations did you not understand? My response was one of profound wisdom. I said they were serious about that. I thought they liked citation revenue and as long as I pay the citation, why should it matter how many citations I receive? Did I mention I was young, dumb and invincible? He looked at me with a blank expression and then burst into laughter. He said Todd you made my day, I am very happy you sped past our town. I am going to give you a break, I will let you be on your way after you pay your citation, promise to quit speeding, and go with this Highway Patrol Officer for a two hour class. What a cool judge I thought to myself. Then I learned the citation took my food and gasoline budget for the next three months. After-wards, the class I was so fortunate to attend. It was me and Officer Never Smile in a small room looking at the worst Utah crashes, complete with graphic photos of those that did not survive. It would be years before I drove above 60mph. In addition, as soon as I could I traded that car in for a four-door Nissan Maxima.

Yes, our choices make a very big difference in our lives down the road. The smallest bad choice, if repeated, can have very bad consequences down the road. I aim to choose well today, that my future tomorrow will be amazing. I am doing my best in food choices and health choices. I am diligently attempting to make the best possible choices in surrounding myself with the best people I know or meet. I learned today that one man living right in the eyes of the Lord and doing all that is possible to help others, makes an enormous impact on this Earth. I have visualized my future tomorrow and I love what I see. It is my hope that you do the same.

"The typical human life seems to be quite unplanned, undirected, unlived, and unsavored. Only those who consciously think about the adventure of living as a matter of making choices among options, which they have found for themselves, ever establish real self-control and live their lives fully." ---Karl Albrecht

"There's a need for accepting responsibility - for a person's life and making choices that are not just ones for immediate short-term comfort. You need to make an investment, and the investment is in health and education." ---Buzz Aldrin