There are certain summers that stick with you—not because everything went smoothly, but because life had a way of handing you exactly the lessons you needed. My internship in the state of Washington, the summer of 1980, was one of those. Back then, I was a junior at Iowa State, trying to line up all the things I thought would guarantee a good job after graduation: solid grades, some campus involvement, and most importantly, that golden ticket on any engineering résumé—an internship in your field. So I spent the spring sending out application after application, collecting a thick stack of rejection letters in return. It became routine enough that some days I’d find myself laughing at how efficiently companies could say “No thanks.” My dorm room wall was full of “flush letters” and I treated it like it was a badge of honor.
Create a Life You Can’t
Wait to Wake Up To
Create a Life You Can’t
Wait to Wake Up To
It’s easy to get caught in the grind of everyday life—the morning alarm, the rush to get out the door, the endless to-do lists. For many, each day feels more like surviving than truly living. But what if your life didn’t feel like a series of obligations? What if you woke up with anticipation, energized by the possibilities of the day ahead?
The secret to a fulfilling life isn’t found in a grand event or distant dream. It lies in the intentional choices you make every single day. It's not about overhauling your entire existence overnight; it's about crafting your life with purpose, one small but meaningful step at a time.
Start With Self-Awareness
Before you can design a life you’re excited to live, you have to know what you actually want. That begins with self-awareness. Ask yourself:
What gives me energy?
What drains me?
When am I happiest?
Who makes me feel most alive?
Keep a journal for a week, jotting down when you feel most fulfilled. Patterns will start to emerge. Maybe you thrive in creative spaces or feel most alive after a good conversation. Identifying these moments is the first building block.
Example:
Julie, a corporate consultant, noticed she always felt happier after her evening painting sessions. She began scheduling 30 minutes each morning for art before work. It changed her entire mood for the day—just one small shift that reconnected her with joy.
Align Your Daily Routine With Your Values
One of the biggest disconnects between surviving and thriving is living out of sync with your values. If you value family but spend all your time at work, you’ll feel unfulfilled. If you value health but ignore your body’s needs, stress will accumulate.
Make a list of your top 5 values. Then audit your time: how much of your week reflects those priorities?
Example:
Michael valued adventure, but realized his routine was stuck in predictability. So, he committed to trying one new thing each week—a new coffee shop, a new hiking trail, even a new podcast. These small adventures gave him a sense of excitement again.
Set Micro-Goals That Matter
We often associate goal-setting with major achievements—running a marathon, writing a book, launching a business. But micro-goals are just as powerful. They create momentum, reinforce purpose, and are easier to follow through on.
Daily micro-goals might include:
Meditate for 5 minutes
Compliment someone genuinely
Move your body for 15 minutes
Send a message to a loved one
These tiny wins add up to big change.
Example:
Erica, a stay-at-home mom, began setting one small intention each day: smile at her reflection, stretch for 10 minutes, drink an extra glass of water. Over time, these simple goals helped her feel more in control and connected to herself.
Create Environments That Energize You
Your surroundings impact your mood and motivation. Take a look at your physical space:
Does your bedroom feel restful?
Does your workspace inspire you?
Is your home organized or chaotic?
Small tweaks—like decluttering your desk, adding plants, or changing lighting—can dramatically shift your experience.
Example:
Darren worked from home but felt sluggish all day. He rearranged his desk to face a window, added a lamp with warm light, and brought in a few houseplants. Within days, his mood and productivity improved.
Curate Who You Spend Time With
Your energy is contagious. Surround yourself with people who uplift, inspire, and support your growth.
Ask yourself:
Who lights me up?
Who drains me?
Who believes in me?
Example:
Nina realized she was spending too much time with a friend who constantly complained. She gently created distance and joined a local hiking group. Not only did she meet more positive people, but she also rekindled her love of nature.
Celebrate Small Joys
Creating a life you love isn’t just about structure and goals. It’s also about embracing joy in the ordinary. Celebrate the little wins:
Hot coffee on a cold morning
A good night’s sleep
A heartfelt laugh
Gratitude is a proven way to boost happiness. Start a nightly gratitude practice—write down three things you’re grateful for. Over time, you’ll train your brain to see the good.
Example:
Carlos struggled with stress and negativity. His therapist suggested a gratitude journal. Within a month, he noticed he was focusing less on what was wrong and more on what was going right.
Design a Morning That Sparks Joy
The tone of your morning sets the tone for your day. Instead of starting in chaos or dread, create a ritual that energizes and excites you.
Ideas include:
Listening to music you love
Reading something inspirational
Stretching or walking
Drinking water with lemon
Example:
Tasha stopped scrolling social media first thing and replaced it with a 10-minute playlist of her favorite upbeat songs. Her mornings instantly became more joyful.
Ask Yourself: What Can I Do Today?
Every big change starts with one decision. You don’t have to transform your whole life in one day. Ask yourself:
What can I do today that will bring me closer to the life I want to wake up to?
It might be a phone call, a walk, saying no to something that drains you, or yes to something that excites you.
Final Thoughts
The life you love won’t magically arrive. You build it—deliberately, consistently, and joyfully. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just has to be true to you.
So take a breath. Reflect. Then do one thing—today—that makes your life a little more yours.
Over time, those daily choices will add up to something beautiful: a life you can’t wait to wake up to.
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Great article!!!!
The Internship That Changed Everything
Long Lake Summers
There are seasons in life you don’t see coming—chapters that don’t announce themselves with fanfare, yet settle so deeply into your memory that years later you can still smell the lake water, feel the pull of the tow rope, and hear the hum of a boat engine echoing across a still summer evening. For me, one of those chapters began the moment I graduated from Iowa State in May of 1981 and took my first real job at 3M. I was barely 22, carrying that mix of confidence and cluelessness that only a new graduate can pull off, and ready to step into the adult world.
Hero of the Beach
When I think back to my childhood— maybe around nine years old—there’s a very specific smell, a very specific feeling, that comes rushing back: the scent of ink and old paper from a stack of Marvel comic books. It’s funny how memory works. I can’t remember what I ate last Tuesday, but I can still picture—clear as day—the cover of The Amazing Spider-Man #56 with the Daily Bugle headlines screaming "Spidey joins Doc Ock" sitting on the floor of my bedroom, or the way the corner store rack looked when I spun it, hoping for a new issue of anything with the red-and-blue web-slinger on the front.
Great article!!!!