Do not have a good day…

Have a good day. Nope! Don’t do that. Any day that ends in “Y” is should never be just a good day. Say that statement out loud again. A day that ends with WHY shouldn’t be just a good day.

When you hear, “Have a good day,” what do you really hear? (Pause…I’ll let you think about that for a clock-tick).

I hear the following:

•        Hi!

•        Whassup?!

•        Eh…

•        Whatevs

•        Ummm, did you say something?

Don’t just have a good day. Have a day that matters. A day with wonder, meaning, intention, purpose. You fill in the blank…but make the day count!

What I don’t hear…care, thoughtfulness, investment, intention.

So, let’s back up. It’s Monday, and I’m not wishing anyone a miserable day. But I am reflecting on a movie I watched this weekend. Yes, it was a week of limited work, lots of binge-watching whatever I wanted, and eating too many See’s candies.

One night, I watched The Last Word with Shirley MacLaine and Amanda Seyfried (not the news show with Lawrence O’Donnell). It’s a reflective movie about the stories we want told about the lives we have led once we are gone. As Eliza says in Hamilton, how do we “write ourselves into the narrative?”

Well, Harriet Lauler (Shirley MacLaine’s character) realizes her story is going to be short, with lack luster and with very few kind words for the life she has chosen to lead. I won’t give away the story – so we will jump to why I found the need to write this post today. Harriet gets herself a job as a disc jockey – and she says the following:

“Please don't have a nice day.
Have a day that matters.
Have a day that's true.
Have a day that's direct.
Have a day that's honest.
A nice day, mmm-mmm.
You'll be miserable.
Anyway, that's my thought
that you should carry through
as you're doing your
housework, your homework,
your driving work,
your playing work,
your working work.
Have a day that means something.”

We are standing on the first day of the last month of 2025. I want you to have something bigger than a meaningful day. Have a meaningful month (& life). Start reflecting on how far you have come in 2025 and start believing in what you can build in 2026.

Start the dream now and make it a reality. Don’t live in your head. Live out loud. Show up for yourself (your friends, family, your community) today. There will be days it won’t feel like 100% – but it will be 100% of what you have in your emotional tank.

Do what you can every day. Don’t stop. You are here – you might as well be present… and that is all the reason to have a day that is filled with intention, meaning, and purpose.

Day 1 of 31 – Welcome to December, a.k.a. the Pre-Game, the “Ready-Set-Go Month” for 2026. We are sharpening our tools and getting ready because 2026 is closer than we think (no pressure 😊).

Don’t have a good day. Have a day that matters.