Be Your Best “Kid” Self!

When my son and daughter, Jeret Adair, 31, and Halen Adair, 26, were younger, I often found myself seeing the world from their perspective.

I would be reminded of my own childhood and when I was able to completely immerse myself in just having fun. Whether that was seeing how high I could swing (I always had to beat my sisters) or enjoying a “make funny faces” competition (the first one who laughs, loses, and that would normally be me), my three sisters and I were totally living in the moment and that moment was all that mattered.

As adults, we obviously cannot totally live our lives that way anymore but we need to take some lessons from our kids and be present in life’s happy moments. We can achieve this by making the conscious choice to choose gratitude over worry, and laughter over complaining. Here’s my advice for setting yourself up for success to do just that.

“Edit” your list of friends:

Surround yourself with positive people and you will be surprised how contagious their energy can be. Also, make the intentional decision to minimize time with people who are constantly negative.

Plan some fun:

This can be as simple as a picnic in the park or as elaborate as a trip to somewhere new. And don’t take all of the fun out of the experience by overscheduling and overplanning. Take pleasure in the small things along the way. Literally stop and smell the roses. Often, the sights to really see are not in a brochure.

Take a big break from technology:

There is nothing more annoying than being excited to meet up with a girlfriend only to end up being the third wheel to her and her phone. Short of playing patty-cake, the two of you can be your best “kid” selves by laughing together, sharing stories, or trying new activities—none of which requires a cellphone.

Speaking of savoring every smile-worthy moment and choosing gratitude, I want to show some love to anyone who may be working through the journey of a breast cancer diagnosis. A little over one year ago, I was diagnosed with Stage 0, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This is often the earliest stage breast cancer can be diagnosed. I was very lucky. After a lumpectomy to remove the small tumor, I am being monitored by an amazing team to help ensure that it stays away. I cannot stress enough the importance of early intervention. So, get your mammograms! Thank you to the team at OutPatient Imaging for detecting the cancer. Thank you to the caring radiology team at Northside Hospital and to my amazing surgeon, Brenda B. Simpson, MD, at Breast Care Specialists. And most of all, thank you, God.

Sometimes a life-changing experience can be a powerful reminder to live each day like it’s our last.

All the Best!