Most mornings, the alarm goes off, and our first thought is often, “I have to get up.” I have to go to work. I have to deal with traffic. I have to face the challenges waiting for me today. But what if we reframed that thought? What if instead of having to get up, we remembered that we get to get up? That subtle shift in perspective changes everything.

Every single day we wake up is a gift. A blessing. An opportunity that wasn’t promised. Yet so often, we rush past that truth because our minds are already racing ahead to what could go wrong, what’s uncertain, what’s stressful, or what’s waiting for us on our calendar. We borrow tomorrow's worry and allow it to rob us of today. The reality is this: life is short. Not in a dramatic way, just in a truthful one. None of us knows how many mornings we’ll be given, how many chances we’ll have to laugh, love, learn, or make a difference. And when we forget that, we start living on autopilot rather than with intention.

As I approach the 20th anniversary of the release of Enjoy The Ride, that message feels more relevant than ever. Two decades ago, the idea was simple but powerful: stop wishing life away. Stop living only for the next milestone, the next promotion, the next season. Learn to appreciate the ride you’re already on. Somewhere along the way, many of us became experts at surviving days instead of savoring them. We wake up thinking about what lies ahead instead of what lies within our reach right now. We replay yesterday’s mistakes or regrets even though we can’t change them. Or we obsess over tomorrow’s possibilities, good or bad, despite the fact that tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. The truth is, the only place life is actually happening is today. Today is where conversations matter. Today is where relationships grow. Today is where joy shows up, often quietly, if we’re paying attention.

Living more for today doesn’t mean ignoring responsibility or pretending tomorrow doesn’t exist. It simply means recognizing that the present moment deserves our best energy, our gratitude, and our focus. It means showing up fully instead of half-heartedly. It means choosing appreciation over expectation. And it definitely means never living in the past. Yesterday can teach us, but it shouldn’t trap us. Regret, resentment, and “what ifs” are heavy baggage to carry into a new day. When we let the past define us, we miss the beauty of the moment we’ve been given.

Every morning, we open our eyes and are given another chance to do better, to love deeper, to laugh harder, to notice what we usually overlook. That’s not an obligation. That’s a privilege. Honor the gift of now. Live more for today, less for tomorrow, and never about yesterday. Life moves fast. But the ride? It’s happening right now. Start each day with the mindset of “I get to experience this day.” I get to contribute. I get to learn something new. I get to Enjoy The Ride!



So tomorrow morning, when the alarm goes off, try this: before your feet hit the floor, remind yourself, “We don’t have to, we get to.”