Ten years from now, you'll be 10 years older, no matter what you do. If you do nothing more than what you're doing right now, you'll just have more of what you see in front of you. If you're happy with that, there's no reason to change or try anything different.

However, if you want something else, then you need to ask yourself where do you want to be in the future? Think of how much different a newborn toddler looks today than he or she will look 10 years from now. Each year, you may notice gradual changes as a child grows up, but after 10 years, you'll see a dramatic difference.

That's how you have to see your own life. Year by year, the changes may seem minor and inconsequential, but after 5 or 10 years, you'll see tremendous changes. Since you'll be 10 years older 10 years from now, the key is deciding where you want to be in those 10 years.

You can and will succeed in one form or another. If you define a goal and work toward it, you're already a success regardless of what anyone else might think. Success is never about a fixed outcome but how you actively choose to live your own life.

While writing this book, my good friend and colleague for over 23 years passed away. Dr. James A. Redfield had a heart attack while biking and was found unresponsive. Despite having his life cut short far sooner than anyone thought possible, Dr. Redfield spent every day living life to its fullest. Just days before his fatal heart attack, he had written me an inspiring letter looking forward to the future:

Keep in mind that happiness is more than just achieving specific goals. Life is a journey that you never know might suddenly end or go long into the future. Every day, ask yourself, “If this were the last time I would see people around me, how do I want to treat them and have them remember me?”

Did you hug your child today and let him or her know how much you love them? Did you kiss your partner today and let them know how much they mean to you? Did you talk to a friend and let them know how much you treasure their friendship? Have you stayed in touch with distant friends and relatives to let them know they're still part of your life? Are you kind to strangers? What would be the last memory you'd want others to think of you? When you know that, go out and make sure you bring those memories to life.

Life is like a roller coaster with its ups and downs. Sometimes life might seem to be working against you and sometimes it might seem out of your control, but no matter what happens, you can always control how you react to adversity. The most powerful person in the world is one who knows they're in control of their life.

Jane Wiedlin, guitarist for The Go-Go's, the only all-woman band to write and play their own songs that topped the Billboard music charts, said (https://www.retrojunk.com/article/show/3268/a-talk-with-jane-wiedlin), “I thought life was completely pointless when I was in high school, but just a few short years later I was having the adventure of a lifetime in a successful rock band!”

Happiness requires you to take constant action performing an activity that brings you joy. Happiness is an experience you share with others to create happy memories that can last a lifetime. Happiness is the satisfaction you feel when you know you've poured your heart and soul into a purpose. Happiness is within your reach, starting now.

You have everything you need to be happy and live a wonderful life. The first step is to believe that your life can change for the better. The second step is to identify your passion. The third step is to define a goal that lets you pursue your passion. The fourth step is to share your passion with those around you. Happiness is never an isolated emotion but a shared experience. The happiest people are those who spread their joy to others.

We may never meet in person, but through this book, I trust we've been able to connect emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. If you remember nothing else from this book, remember this: Believe in yourself and never give up. You are greater than you think. You can achieve wonderful things if you only try. You are unique because there's only one person exactly like you with your distinctive gifts and viewpoint to share with the world.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.”

So what are you waiting for? Why don't you get started?

Takeaways: Relish every moment, because you never know how much time you have on Earth. You hold the power to control and change your life for the better. The big question isn't what can you do, but when are you going to start doing it?