It's almost the holiday season, a season of joy and giving. And during this giving season it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of things and get weary in the difficulties that life seems to send our way. We may want to be a giver but raising kids, building a business, providing a living and all other demands on our life, can rob us of the ability to give. And while it may seem counterintuitive, the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you. If you are emotionally unhealthy, you can’t give your time and inspiration to others. If you are mentally unhealthy, it’s almost impossible to have the strength to persevere, lead and give. If you’re spiritually unhealthy, you can’t inspire, uplift or be the example you want to be.

In this episode, McKay tells the story of Philip Stern, a photographer and book editor. Stern gifted the US servicemen and women in World War II by editing, compiling, and resizing hundreds of popular books to fit into the pockets of military uniforms. During this inspired time of Stern’s life, he would write the famous story of The Greatest Gift. It would eventually become the award-winning film It’s A Wonderful Life. Taking Philip Stern's example, McKay elaborates on how we impact the world in unique ways with our choices, and asserts that one gift, our lives, and the choices we make, can bless others for years to come. He shows how selfishness and the pursuit of bringing more to ourselves halt this impact, and draws lessons from the 1987 Jessica Morales rescue story. McKay then asserts that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you, and shares a life experience when his renewed Mustang got stolen from his garage and relates it to the choice to be healthy. Listen in today as McKay shares lessons learned from both fiction and real life that open our eyes to the ways in which doing good and making healthy choices can lead to a healthier and happier life.

The Finer Details of This Episode:

Philip Stern’s gift to US World War II servicemen and women
A lesson to be grateful for life
The award-winning film It's a Wonderful Life
How one gift and your life can bless others for years to come
The effect of selfishness and the pursuit of bringing more to ourselves
The Morales Family story
The greatest gift you could give yourself – a healthy you
The reintroduction of the Mustang of the 1960s
How you begin to make choices that lead to a healthier you
The 2003 movie Freaky Friday, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan
How our frame of reference determines our health
Gym owner and workout Coach Marc Zalmanoff
Lessons from the movie Gladiator
Lessons from the story of Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss

Quotes:

"Our life is a gift. It is both the greatest gift we've been given and the greatest gift we have to give."

"Raising kids and building a business and providing a living and all the other demands on our life can rob you of any ability or desire to give."

"The greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you."

"When we're always looking for the right person or the next job or more money or whatever we think is going to bring us happiness, we lose sight of what is right in front of us."

"Good choices are not perfect choices."

"We often just say ‘no’ to good things because we don't have the time or resources to do everything."

"Choose what makes you healthier, not what's easier."

"If you're striving for a happier, healthier life, you may have to walk away from the habits and behaviors causing discontent."

"We get to choose our frame of reference."

"What we do in life echoes in eternity."

"If choices ripple in the long term of our lives, then remember to choose wisely."

"We mistakenly assume that each choice we make and each action we take is only affecting that particular moment or circumstance."

"Choices have consequences."

"Do not get tired of doing the right thing."

"We make choices and choices make history."

"God has given you this life to make good choices that will echo in eternity."

Show Links:

Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

S04E32 - The Gift of Choice